By Adam Gardner, Head of Products
As one of the fastest growing population centres in Australia with around 3.5 million people, Southeast Queensland (SEQ) is a region primed for change. As Australia’s third largest population centre continues to develop, the requirement for increased digital capability in an AI-driven future is rapidly expanding.
A key tool in any digital transformation and the digital economy is access to a comprehensive cloud connectivity ecosystem. AWS’s recent release of 10Gbps and 100Gbps Direct Connect Point-of-Presence (PoP) in our B2 Brisbane data centre allows easier access to the vast array AWS global services and is an excellent example of the exciting opportunities becoming ever more available.
Google launched their direct connect cloud connectivity on-ramp at B2 in 2021 providing secure, dedicated low-costost connectivity into Google’s global service suite. Using the national AXON network ecosystem allows customers to double down on direct connectivity with a single managed platform to rapidly deploy new capabilities on demand and with self-service capability.
For leveraging cloud services, and hosted AI capability, there’s simply no more effective approach than direct connections to the service provider. Virtually no jitter, the lowest possible latency, reduced charges from the cloud providers and increased security are all key benefits of this approach. And. they are available immediately.
Services can be delivered to customers not hosted within the data centre through the AXON platform, but for the ultimate low latency connectivity, colocating directly within B2 provides un-paralleled latency optimising the service capability. In fact B2 now offers local organisations the only two direct cloud connectivity PoPs in SEQ.
Direct cloud access in Brisbane is a boon for regional growth improving customer experience significantly. It enables simplified cloud connectivity for local organisations and unlocks new opportunities for growth and innovation in an increasingly digital economy.
Southeast Queensland isn’t just growing – it’s becoming a powerhouse for innovation. Data centres are rapidly emerging as critical infrastructure hubs, delivering the operational certainty and future readiness needed to transform the local economy through unfettered access to next-generation technologies such as cloud computing and AI.
Simplifying cloud connectivity in Southeast Queensland
Until now, connecting to AWS Direct Connect from Queensland required routing traffic through Sydney – a process slower, more complex and more expensive than what’s now available. The new AWS Direct Connect PoP available through any NEXTDC Brisbane facility changes that.
It creates new opportunities to accelerate strategic advantage – helping businesses manage risk, stay agile, and adapt to unknown future disruptions driven by the next generation of HPC and AI-enabled innovation.
With a single cross-connect to AWS Cloud services inside the NEXTDC Brisbane ecosystem, customers can dramatically cut complexity and costs while boosting latency performance. No more chaining multiple services to reach AWS – just faster provisioning, simpler management, and lower costs, all backed by NEXTDC’s world-class colocation services.
For organisations, this isn’t just about efficiency. With AWS Direct Connect housed within B2’s physically secure environment, data never leaves trusted hands enroute to the AWS cloud. As much as anything else, it’s a win for security, performance and peace-of-mind.
Building a thriving tech hub
Southeast Queensland’s growth as a digital and technology hub is no coincidence. The region is fast becoming a key gateway for international business, with investments pouring in from global giants like AWS, Microsoft and Google. These companies recognise the value of being close to their customers and the benefits of Queensland’s expanding digital infrastructure footprint.
With hyperscale onramps like Direct Connect as well as subsea cables such as Google’s Australia Connect initiative and the Japan-Guam-Australia South cable connecting through NEXTDC’s SC1 Sunshine Coast data centre (and SC2 coming soon), Queensland is staking its claim as a critical digital link in the Asia-Pacific region.
And the timing couldn’t be better. Queensland is preparing for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics while next gen technologies are being explored and applied across industry, which means the demand for high-bandwidth, low-latency infrastructure is set to skyrocket. From powering AI-driven analytics to streaming high-definition content, organisations of all shapes and sizes are partnering strategically to accelerate innovation to meet future challenges and drive the region’s digital transformation.
Accessing Future-Ready Data Centre Infrastructure
But it’s not just about today. Expansion works that are underway at NEXTDC’s B2 facility underscore our commitment to supporting customers’ growth aspirations in this booming region. This new development will enhance B2’s status as a technology hub, attracting investment, creating smart jobs and driving local innovation.
Now housing SEQ’s only two direct-to-cloud access PoPs, the NEXTDC Brisbane facilities have become more than a data centre – they are now meet-me points for customers, cloud providers and diverse ICT services. Customers who colocate at NEXTDC B1 or B2 have unprecedented proximity to a rich digital ecosystem that enables reduced network complexity, simplified multicloud strategy and supercharged collaboration.
Driving Southeast Queensland’s digital economy
At NEXTDC, we’re proud to be playing a pivotal role in shaping Southeast Queensland’s digital future – helping it to become a hub for investment, jobs and economic growth. Through significant investments in infrastructure and continued investment from global technology leaders like AWS, we’re building the foundation for the region to be a major player in next generation innovation.
For organisations in SEQ and beyond, the message is clear: the digital economy thrives at B2 Brisbane. Reach out today to discover how NEXTDC can help you reduce infrastructure complexity and build the operational certainty that will unlock your future digital potential.
