An edge data center has been established in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia, significantly boosting data processing performance for local industries. The collaboration between NEXTDC, a renowned data center operator, and Vertiv, aims to tackle data latency issues and enhance efficiency across sectors such as mining and oil and gas.
Historically, data from Pilbara needed to traverse 1,600 kilometers to Perth for processing, causing high latency. With the new PH1 Port Hedland facility, local access to cloud-based services like AI and machine learning has improved due to its proximity to the Vocus telecommunications fiber network. According to Adam Gardner, Head of Product at NEXTDC, the facility enables businesses to innovate and optimize operations more effectively. He highlighted Vertiv’s role, stating, “Vertiv’s strength in Edge data center builds—particularly in far-flung locations like Port Hedland—meant they were an ideal partner for NEXTDC’s in-house expertise.”
The project features a prefabricated modular design by Vertiv, addressing logistical challenges associated with remote construction. This approach expedited build time and ensured the center could withstand Pilbara’s harsh environment. Mark Hamilton, Project Manager at NEXTDC, emphasized the facility’s resilience, noting that it includes specific measures to endure extreme weather conditions, such as cyclones.
State-of-the-art systems, including refrigerant-based cooling, a high-efficiency uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and lithium-ion batteries, accommodate high-density power demands, promoting future upgrade potential. This initiative aligns with broader development plans, with a second edge data center, NE1 Newman, currently under construction in the region, located 600 kilometers from Port Hedland.
Hamilton remarked on the modular and flexible nature of Vertiv’s solutions and their readiness to support autonomous mining and advanced programs. Tony Gaunt, Vice President of Asia at Vertiv, hailed the development as a game-changer, enabling metro-level compute capabilities with low latency and high resilience in previously isolated locations. Gaunt stated, “Together, we’re making access to the major cloud providers the new status quo for Australia’s most prominent and founding industries.”
