China Mobile has broken ground on a new $122.5 million Global Network Center (GNC) in Hong Kong.
China’s largest mobile operator hosted a stone-laying ceremony for the GNC at Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate on Tuesday.
China Mobile International noted the company planned to invest HK$950 million ($122.5 million) for the construction of the GNC. Initial investment includes the HK$22.9 million premium of the 9742 square meter lot of land at Tseung Kwan O.
With an internal space of 24,355 square meters, the GNC in Hong Kong is expected to serves as a submarine cable landing and transmission hub, internet data center, cloud computing center and global network operation center.
The GNC, expected to complete in early 2014, will operate as the base for the company’s international telecommunication services by connecting China’s network with the world via the existing and new cable systems landed in Hong Kong.
These upcoming cable systems include the Asia-Pacific Gateway and the South-East Asia Japan submarine cable systems, which will be ready for service in 2014 and 2013, respectively.
As a datacenter, the GNC will also house a range of voice and data services, including IPLC MPLS VPN, long distance voice hubbing and cloud enabling services for local and global enterprises.