Four operators approved to expand data centres; 200MW of new capacity allocated

SINGAPORE – Four operators have been given the green light to expand their data centre capacity in Singapore, as part of a push to strengthen the country’s standing as an artificial intelligence and connectivity hub.

Digital Realty, Equinix, Keppel Data Centres and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres have each been allocated 50 megawatts of new capacity, allocated selectively through competitive allocation calls tied to strict green energy standards.

Their proposals edged out more than 16 others submitted to the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) through their second Data Centre – Call for Application exercise launched on Dec 1, 2025.

The operators have committed to power more than 50 per cent of their new data centre capacity from green energy sources, said IMDA and EDB in a joint statement on Aug 21.

“Awarded proposals were selected through an open competitive process for their ability to holistically meet the desired outcomes of the exercise across strategic, economic and sustainability components,” said the statement.

These include anchoring advanced compute capabilities in Singapore for tech such as AI, providing significant economic contributions to the country, including research and development collaborations with Singapore-based partners, and adopting liquid cooling and 100 per cent energy-efficient IT equipment.

At least half of their capacity will also have to be powered through green energy sources such as biomethane, low-carbon ammonia, low-carbon hydrogen and vertical building-integrated photovoltaics.

All four operators operate several data centres across Singapore.

Equinix, which was also selected during the pilot Call for Application in 2022, operates five data centres here.

It plans to set up its sixth data centre by the end of 2026 from its successful application in 2023, and its seventh data centre on Jurong Island, said Yee May Leong, Equinix’s managing director of Singapore.

Demand is driven by increasing use of cloud services and AI applications, which require a lot of data processing. These tasks typically require secure infrastructure that is physically close to businesses, she said.

Digital Realty currently operates three data centres here, which have a combined capacity of 84MW. It will set up its fourth data centre, following its successful application.

ST Telemedia Global Data Centres operates six such facilities in Singapore, and will be setting up its seventh on Jurong Island.

JTC is also developing a low-carbon data centre park on Jurong Island to harness low-carbon technology within the island’s ecosystem, said the statement.

EDB and IMDA added that they will review the need for another Call for Application within the next two years, to support Singapore’s strategic priorities.

Singapore’s first Data Centre – Call for Application was launched in July 2022. A total allocation of 80MW of new capacity was awarded a year later to four operators: Equinix, GDS, Microsoft and an AirTrunk-ByteDance consortium.

This came after the authorities lifted a data centre moratorium imposed in 2019 to manage the immense strain on Singapore’s energy and land resources.