American multinational technology conglomerate Microsoft's three Belgian data centres will be operational by autumn, the company reported on Wednesday.
Microsoft announced four years ago that it is investing more than €1 billion to build three physically separate Azure data centres operating as one Belgian hub.
The company confirmed on Wednesday that the centres will be operational by autumn 2025. "This investment once again underscores Microsoft's mission to accelerate digital transformation in Belgium by providing world-class digital infrastructure, encouraging innovation, and supporting local businesses and government organisations with advanced cloud and AI technologies," the press release noted.
The centres are intended to provide local cloud infrastructure access for businesses – specifically SMEs – and governments, but also sectors with strict rules regarding cloud storage.
Microsoft has not disclosed the exact location and capacity of the data centres but has previously said they would be located around Brussels. Data News reported they were built by LCL, EdgeConnex and Interxion on behalf of Microsoft.
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Details on the investment's scale or job creation are unclear, although the 2021 announcement mentioned 60,000 additional jobs within Microsoft's "ecosystem" (companies and institutions using its services).
The plan is part of a strategy where the company is opening smaller sites in more and more countries alongside its very large data centre hubs. It has also done so in Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland.
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