Singtel's data centre arm, partners aim to fill over 500 jobs amid AI boom

Singtel's regional data centre arm Nxera and its industry partners aim to hire more than 500 people here in the coming months, growing capacity in line with robust demand from firms for artificial intelligence (AI) computing muscle.

- Tay Hong Yi

Around 40 per cent of those openings are for entry-level roles, said Nxera, defying early signs elsewhere in the technology sector of hiring pullbacks for junior staff who can be increasingly replaced by AI.

Nxera chief executive Bill Chang on July 25 outlined the sector's prospects at the inaugural Sustainable AI Data Centre Career Day, spearheaded by Nxera. Around 1,000 students from tertiary institutions attended the event at ITE College East, which is part of the ongoing Skills Future Festival.

"This is a paradox: One side of AI says it's going to disrupt jobs... The other side of AI needs (workers) — that's us, building AI infrastructure," Mr Chang said.

Nxera, which has more than 200 staff, is 80 per cent owned by Digital InfraCo, Singtel's stand-alone infrastructure unit. The other 20 per cent is held by global investment firm KKR.