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Amazon Launches New AWS Region in Taiwan with Over $5 Billion Investment, Boosting Cloud Services and Data Security

15 days ago

Amazon has officially launched the AWS Asia Pacific (Taipei) Region, marking a significant expansion of its cloud infrastructure in Taiwan. This new region will allow developers, startups, enterprises, and various organizations to run their applications and store data in Taiwan's data centers, ensuring compliance with local data residency regulations while offering faster, more reliable service to end users. The launch also emphasizes Amazon’s commitment to the region, with plans to invest more than $5 billion in Taiwan to support the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of its new data centers. Launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (Taipei) Region The new AWS Asia Pacific (Taipei) Region comprises three Availability Zones at launch, bringing the total number of Availability Zones globally to 117 across 37 AWS Regions. These zones are designed to ensure high availability and fault tolerance by placing infrastructure in separate geographic locations, yet close enough to provide low latency and seamless connectivity. This makes it easier for organizations to build and scale applications with confidence, using advanced cloud technologies such as analytics, compute, content delivery, databases, generative AI, machine learning, networking, and storage. Significance for Taiwanese Organizations Key customers in Taiwan already utilizing AWS services include major corporations such as 104 Corporation, 91APP, Acer, Cathay Financial Holdings, Chunghwa Telecom, CyberLink, Gamania Group, KKCompany, Modernity Financial Technologies (MaiCoin), Trend Micro, TSMC, and Yahoo! TW Ecommerce. These companies can now take advantage of the new region's capabilities to enhance their digital presence and improve user experiences. For example, financial institutions can securely store sensitive data locally, while tech giants like TSMC can benefit from higher performance and lower latency. Government and Industry Support The Premier of Taiwan, Jung-tai Cho, welcomed the launch, highlighting Amazon's strong commitment to the country. He noted that this investment positions Taiwan as a pivotal player in the global supply chain and strengthens the collaboration between AWS and the Taiwanese government and industry. The goal is to accelerate digital transformation and promote emerging technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence, fostering a robust digital ecosystem. AWS's Commitment to Sustainability As part of its broader sustainability initiatives, AWS is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of its data centers. A report by Accenture, commissioned by AWS, suggests that AWS’s infrastructure is up to 4.1 times more efficient than on-premises solutions and can reduce carbon footprints by up to 99% when workloads are optimized. The company is continuously working on improving energy efficiency through innovative cooling technologies, optimized data center design, and the development of purpose-built chips. Long-Term Investments and Training Programs Over the years, Amazon has made several strategic investments in Taiwan to support cloud adoption. In 2014, AWS introduced an Amazon CloudFront edge location in Taipei, enhancing content delivery with low latency and high transfer speeds. By 2018, the company added more CloudFront edge locations, as well as AWS Direct Connect locations, providing private connectivity to AWS. In 2020, AWS Outposts, a hybrid cloud solution, was launched, and in 2022, AWS Local Zones were introduced, further extending cloud capabilities to meet the needs of large populations. In addition to infrastructure investments, AWS is committed to upskilling local talent. Since 2017, the company has trained over nine million individuals across Asia Pacific and Japan, including more than 200,000 people in Taiwan, through programs like AWS Academy, AWS Educate, and AWS Skill Builder. These initiatives aim to develop the next generation of IT leaders and ensure a steady flow of skilled professionals capable of leveraging AWS technologies. Industry Insights The launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (Taipei) Region is seen as a strategic move to tap into Taiwan's thriving tech and innovation ecosystem. Industry experts praise Amazon's approach, noting the region's potential to foster more significant digital innovation and accelerate cloud adoption among local and regional players. They highlight the importance of local data storage and reduced latency, which can significantly enhance user experiences and operational efficiencies. Company Profiles Amazon Web Services (AWS) Since 2006, AWS has been the global leader in cloud services, offering over 240 fully featured services from data centers worldwide. It supports a wide range of workloads, from compute and storage to databases, networking, and advanced technologies like AI and IoT. Millions of customers across startups, enterprises, and government agencies trust AWS to power their infrastructure, driving agility and cost savings. Amazon Amazon operates based on four core principles: customer obsession, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. The company aims to be the most customer-centric, best employer, and safest workplace on Earth. Known for innovations like 1-Click shopping, Prime, AWS, and The Climate Pledge, Amazon continues to push boundaries in technology and sustainability.

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