Facebook named as Luleå server hall backer
US social media giant Facebook has been named as the backer of a server hall project in Sweden's far north, which is set to begin operations in 2012.
Company representatives are set to hold a press conference in Kulturens hus in Luleå on Thursday together with local municipal representatives, according to a report in the Norrbottens Kuriren daily.
"Yes, it is Facebook," said Jan Fredriksson at PR agency Helm, responsible for Facebook's business in Sweden, ending months of speculation.
The firm is to occupy the three giant server halls which are being built between the Aurorum Science Park and Gammelstadsviken Nature Reserve, just outside of Luleå.
The three halls will take up 30,000 square metres each and are estimated to use up as much electricity as 16,000 detached houses, amounting to a bill of more than 470 million kronor ($72 million) per annum.
The Local reported back in May that Facebook had been rumoured to be connected with the project but was told by council representatives that the identity of the investor would remain under wraps while negotiations continued.
Matz Engman of the Aurorum Science Park told The Local at the time that they had been actively seeking interested parties to the area for over three years, but declined to confirm Facebook's interest.
“Recently there has been a massive amount of speculation. But I can’t say anything right now,” he said at the time.
The construction of the server halls amounts to an investment running into billions of kronor, although it will generate only 70-90 full time jobs when the halls are completed in 2012.
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Company representatives are set to hold a press conference in Kulturens hus in Luleå on Thursday together with local municipal representatives, according to a report in the Norrbottens Kuriren daily.
"Yes, it is Facebook," said Jan Fredriksson at PR agency Helm, responsible for Facebook's business in Sweden, ending months of speculation.
The firm is to occupy the three giant server halls which are being built between the Aurorum Science Park and Gammelstadsviken Nature Reserve, just outside of Luleå.
The three halls will take up 30,000 square metres each and are estimated to use up as much electricity as 16,000 detached houses, amounting to a bill of more than 470 million kronor ($72 million) per annum.
The Local reported back in May that Facebook had been rumoured to be connected with the project but was told by council representatives that the identity of the investor would remain under wraps while negotiations continued.
Matz Engman of the Aurorum Science Park told The Local at the time that they had been actively seeking interested parties to the area for over three years, but declined to confirm Facebook's interest.
“Recently there has been a massive amount of speculation. But I can’t say anything right now,” he said at the time.
The construction of the server halls amounts to an investment running into billions of kronor, although it will generate only 70-90 full time jobs when the halls are completed in 2012.
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