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SCMP Reporter

AT&T has expanded its network of Internet data centres by adding new sites in Hong Kong, Sydney and Nice.

The new facilities bring to 21 the number of centres the New Jersey-based communications carrier operates, including 13 in the United States.

AT&T officials said last week that the announcement was the firm's response to growing demand from businesses to avail of managed hosting services.

These centres sit on the carrier's global communications infrastructure, which allows hosting customers direct connection to a virtual private network and other AT&T services.

Financial details were not given.

The data centre projects appear to follow up on AT&T's announcement last year that it would build up facilities in Asia and Europe, backed by a US$200 million war chest for regional expansion programmes.

Kevin Ng, general manager for Hong Kong and south China at AT&T Business, said the Asia-Pacific region and Europe were key markets, with multinational businesses and large domestic enterprises there requiring networks and applications.

'We are directly responding to customers' requirements by providing globally consistent managed services and support - an imperative for any business with worldwide applications and operations,' he said.

Despite a depressed economy, AT&T estimates show that its managed hosting services operations worldwide grew more than 100 per cent last year.

Managed hosting allows an enterprise to use a ready-to-use e-business infrastructure over the Internet, paying for the service on a subscription basis.

This set-up allows users to focus their resources on running their businesses instead of worrying about or making significant investments in computer hardware, software and networking.

AT&T's Internet data centres provide the physical operations hub for these services, which include application, database, hardware and operating system management, storage services, managed security and firewall services, and professional services. These sites also offer dedicated high-speed connections to major cities around the world.

Mr Ng said AT&T was beefing up its existing customer support centres in Asia and Europe to complement its expanded data centre network.

'While other hosting providers are contracting their domestic and international operations, AT&T continues to expand into key Asian and European markets,' International Data Corp research manager for Web hosting Melanie Posey said.

AT&T said it had closed more than 240 new hosting contracts with large and medium-sized enterprises in the fourth quarter last year, including MarketWatch.com and the US media conglomerate Tribune Company.

In Asia and Europe, AT&T also provides managed hosting services to companies such as Jaguar Racing, Novell and Textron.

With about US$37 billion in annual revenues, AT&T has relationships with about 50 million consumers and four million business customers worldwide.

Its Asia-Pacific headquarters is in Hong Kong, with two data centres in Chai Wan.



Managed hosting services market expands for AT&amp;T

Managed hosting services market expands for AT&amp;T

Managed hosting services market expands for AT&T