AWS in China, location Ningxia West Cloud Valley

WSJ had a post on the security threats of data center infrastructure.  In this post there is mention of a US cloud company in a Western China data center.

“Vincent Hu of Zhongwei, China, is overseeing the construction of a large data center for a leading U.S. cloud-computing company. ”

— http://www.wsj.com/articles/cyber-risk-isnt-always-in-the-computer-1443125108

Some friends were speculating who was the us cloud-computing company.  Found this post and it documents AWS.

“Start of the Ningxia West Cloud Valley to Develop a “New Silk Road” for the Cloud Computing Industry

Commencement of the Construction of the West Cloud Valley Project in the Ningxia Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park

On April 28, 2014, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the city of Zhongwei in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Ningxia Zhongwei Municipal Government, Amazon AWS, and the Ningxia West Cloud Valley Technology Co., Ltd. witnessed together the grand opening ceremony of the first project in the West Cloud Valley Project in the Ningxia Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park and the Signing Ceremony of the Framework Agreement on the Cooperation between Amazon AWS and the West Cloud Valley. The West Cloud Valley will start to construct the data center and relevant facilities serving Amazon AWS under the cooperation framework.
...
“Amazon AWS is very happy to participate in the construction of a dynamic Chinese cloud computing ecological system, and to closely cooperate with partners including the Ningxia Government and the West Cloud Valley to build a world class data center, provide highly extendable, efficient and low-cost cloud infrastructure and help promote the development and prosperity of Chinese enterprises and economy,” said Mr. Rong Yongkang, AWS Global Vice President and AWS China Executive Director, “We will invest in Ningxia to build a localized team and help more Chinese clients achieve innovative development and by using AWS cloud computing service get rid of undifferentiated IT management work.””

China DC Growth driven by state - Telco and Finance

DatacenterDynamics reports on the China market with referencing a research study.

“The report, Research on the Distribution Features and Development Strategy of China’s Data Centers, was published today by CCID Consulting, a consulting and intelligence service provider under China Electronics Information Industry Development Research Institute of MIIT, according to OFweek.

The report explores the development of China’s data center industry in terms of contextual background, influential factors and major trends. It analyzes the distribution features of data centers across the country.”

— http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/focus/archive/2014/12/china’s-data-centers-driven-state

Part of what is covered are the three Telcos and four banks that are behind much of the DC growth.

“In the telecommunication industry, three large state-owned telecommunication operators (China Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom) and large IDC service providers are the major players driving data center constructions.

Among them, China Telecom has up to 375 IDC data centers, 320 of which are used to serve external customers; China Unicom has 196 IDC data centers with a total floor space of 184,000 sqm; and China Mobile has a number of data centers totaling 105,000 sqm.

The ‘Big Four’ banks driving data centers
In the financial industry, the ‘Big Four’ state-owned banks (Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Construction Bank)”

If you are interested in the original research and have Google Chrome you can translate the original document referenced.

“REVIEW: CCID Consulting released “Chinese characteristics data center layout and Development Strategy.” In depth analysis of the characteristics of the data center layout and development strategy, from the industrial development environment, influencing factors, and other aspects of the evolution of the trend to explore the development of the data center, and in-depth analysis of the current situation of the layout of the data center.”

— http://ee.ofweek.com/2014-12/ART-8420-2817-28908773.html

State of the China Cloud

DatacenterDynamics has a post with lots of data on the China Cloud.

“China’s cloud market is already crowded. Both Microsoft and IBM have partnered with 21Vianet to roll out Azure and CMS cloud respectively. Amazon has introduced AWS cloud to China by cooperating with Sinnet and ChinaNetCenter. In addition, the market also has very influential internet players including Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent and Grand Cloud.”

— https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/focus/archive/2014/12/gds-supplies-affordable-cloud-china

The article is written about GDS, but there is lots of other cloud players detailed in comparison.

“GDS, a Chinese IT service provider with 17 high-availability data centers across the country also felt the profound impact exerted by this cloud revolution and has been transforming its role to help enterprise customers to transfer their IT infrastructure to cloud computing platforms.

Dr Les Zhang, vice president, cloud business development of GDS, and Yilin Chen, SVP, product & operation of GDS told DatacenterDynamics that the colocation service provider is now treating cloud as its strategic business for development and is committed to becoming a leading integrated cloud infrastructure provider in China.”

Finland announces Submarine Cable to Germany and hopes of Asia

Thanks to Google and others putting data centers in Finland, there is a higher demand for connectivity.

“Finland is starting construction of a submarine information cable to Germany to attract more data centers and improve security by diversifying connections.

The system, worth about 60 million euros ($74 million), will be supplied by Alcatel-Lucent SA, according to Jukka-Pekka Joensuu of state-owned Cinia Group Oy. The work is set to be completed in early 2016.”

— http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-03/finland-lays-alcatel-underwater-cable-to-attract-data-centers.html

With the right financing there is hopes for a connection from Finland to China.

“Once Finland’s link to Germany is completed, the government hopes to speed up Asia’s cyber connection with Europe via a planned cable through Arctic waters and Russia. The project is the subject of preliminary talks by several governments and companies, and may cost about 800 million euros, according to Eero Heliovaara, head of the department that oversees Finland’s government-owned companies.

“First we want to attract data centers,” Heliovaara said in an interview in Helsinki. “They will see the link to Asia as important. Large Chinese companies are very interested — it all depends on how the financing can be arranged.””

China's Anti-Corruption Drive must have some kind of Effect on Data Centers

WSJ has an article on the anti-corruption drive in China.  What is interesting is a data drive approach vs. testimony.

"The procedures raise questions about denial of human rights," says Maya Wang, China researcher at Humans Rights Watch. In response, Chinese officials say Mr. Wang is encouraging his team to rely less on confessions and more on analysis of data.

The effects that get the notice is on things like luxury goods and the economies.

Lu Ting, a China economist at Bank of America Corp., estimates that the crackdown is shaving somewhere between 0.6 and 1.5 percentage points off China's gross domestic product growth this year, as sales plunge of luxury goods, high-end apartments and other baubles of the rich that could attract the attention of Mr. Wang's investigators. Government investment has also slowed because local officials fear that putting projects out to bid could open them to accusations of kickbacks.

Over the long run, economists argue, tackling corruption produces economic gains because government funds are spent more productively. Jailing powerful officials in state-owned firms may also make executives wary of trying to block Mr. Xi's plans to introduce more competition in state-dominated fields. But all of that can take years.

There are some good moves like recruiting staff from another province to investigate a different one.

Mr. Wang has fielded a dozen investigatory groups and fanned them out around the country. Many are headed by a retired official of ministerial rank who hails from provinces outside the one being inspected.

With all these efforts there must be some effect on data centers in China.  It’s just a bit hard to find where things are documented.