Hon Hai's cloud center catches the eye of Facebook, Alibaba

Want China Times, Cheng Shu-fang and Staff Reporter 2014-01-09

Hon Hai's cloud computing data center in Kaohsiung. (Photo/Yen Rui-tien)

Several prominent companies have inquired into collaborative efforts with Taiwan-based Hon Hai on a cloud computing data center in Kaohsiung's software industry park. Among them are the likes of Alibaba, Hewlett Packard and Facebook.

Hon Hai, the world's largest contract manufacturer known in China by its trading name Foxconn, started to build its cloud computing data center last August. The center is expected to become operational in March, and is currently applying for an operation certificate from Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Alibaba, Hewlett Packard and Facebook are interested in using space in the internet data center, which would allow them to launch more localized cloud services to Taiwan's technologically savvy population.

Hon Hai has invested in the software industrial park for over two years at a sum of NT$1.9 billion (US$31 million). The data center is approximately 10,000 square meters large and is geared for an almost 63,000 square meter expansion for software development.