S'pore to tighten rules for data centres, cloud service providers

Announcement made at launch of Al test-bed facility by Singtel, Nvidia

- Krist Boo Senior Business Correspondent

Mr Manoj Prasanna Kumar, chief technology officer of Singtel's Digital InfraCo, and Nvidia's senior vice-president of solutions architecture and engineering Marc Hamilton at the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the companies' Centre of Excellence for Applied AI on Feb 24.

(PHOTO: SINGTEL)

Singapore is drawing up regulations for the data centres and cloud service providers (CSP) powering its digital economy, while it welcomes a new test facility for cutting-edge compute backed by the world's top chipmaker Nvidia.

The proposed Digital Infrastructure Act (DIA) will require that such providers meet power efficiency standards, and have in place cybersecurity and service disruption countermeasures. They will also be required to log incident reports.

To be tabled later this year, the legislation will impact both existing and future facilities, said Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How at the launch of Singtel and Nvidia's new Centre of Excellence for Applied AI on Feb 24.

"It would be irresponsible for the Government to take a hands-off approach and leave it entirely to commercial arrangements between the CSPs, data centre operators and their enterprise customers, when there are spillover implications to the broader economy, society, national security and Singapore's international reputation," he said.

Existing operators will have time to comply as they refresh or retrofit equipment.