Alibaba Cloud Doubles Capacity In Indonesia With Second Data Centre

Alibaba's cloud computing unit has opened a second data centre in Indonesia, doubling its local capacity and pushing its global coverage to 55 availability zones across 19 regions. 

The launch comes 10 months after the Chinese vendor announced its first site in the ASEAN market last March and is part of a network of eight international data centre regions in the Asia-Pacific, including Singapore, Australia, and Malaysia. According to Alibaba, it is the only global public cloud provider that operates local data centres in Indonesia. 

The two facilities offer a range of products and services including database, networking, storage, and middleware applications, said the cloud vendor. It also introduced machine learning for artificial intelligence applications to the local market and will add new offerings later this month, including real-time search, visualisation, and data analysis. 

"With better connectivity and a fast-growing digital community, the Indonesian market presents enormous opportunities to both local and global enterprises," said Alibaba Cloud's general manager for Singapore and Indonesia, Leon Chen. 

The vendor also launched an accelerator scheme with the aim to boost the local talent pool and help drive the Indonesian government's 2020 Go Digital plan. Alibaba's Internet Champion Global Accelerator Programme will offer training, mentorship, and venture capital opportunities for local businesses and professionals, it said. The initiative will be extended to other global markets following its Indonesia debut.  

For a start, Alibaba said, 300 professionals in Jakarta will be introduced to e-commerce technology by tapping into Alibaba's 11.11 global shopping festival as a case study. 

Recognised more widely for its e-commerce prowess, Alibaba first launched its cloud business in China a decade ago in 2009. It was only in 2015 that Alibaba Cloud expanded its availability beyond the Chinese market, setting up its international headquarters in Singapore and pledging US$1 billion in investment. The funds were to go towards expanding its data centre footprint as well as building up its partner ecosystem and developing new cloud offerings.

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