BDx acquires OneTen Paya Lebar

BDx has acquired OneTen Paya Lebar, the site of its SIN1 data centre. SIN1 has a storied history.

BDx on Tuesday announced that it has secured a US$155 million loan to buy the freehold OneTne Paya Lebar, on which the SIN1 data centre sits.

⌛ 𝗔 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲

A quick history of the SIN1 data centre:

• A former warehouse from the 1980s
• Underwent asset enhancement in 2013.
• Leased to Pacnet as a bare building.

The plan then was to turn it into a data centre, utilising its various strengths:

• High ceilings.
• High floor load.
• Sizeable floor plate.

🏢 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲

Pacnet did the fit-out as a Tier III data centre, and it was eventually certified as a Tier III data centre (Design) for Phase 1A and Phase 2.

Things happened though:

• SGCS2 was acquired by Telstra in 2014.
• Bought by BDx in 2020, renamed SIN1.
• BDx upgraded the data centre.

BDx's PR didn't respond to my queries, but here's what I dug out about SIN1 under BDx.

• Hosts over 50 customers, incl 3 hyperscalers.
• Now BCA Green Mark Platinum (Was Gold Plus).
• PUE of 1.35 through upgrades.
• Current capacity of 14MW.

🚀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

Why did BDx opt to acquire OneTen Paya Lebar, as opposed to continue leasing it (It had option of another 5+5 years)?

The reasons given were:

• Data centre on freehold land.
• Its current global headquarters.
• Height restrictions will be lifted from 2030.

But really, there is no way to get new data centres approved outside of a tightly controlled process in Singapore right now.

So SIN1 ticks all the boxes for a "reverse" development, assuming BDx is confident of securing the power on top of the 14MW it has currently.

Of course, retrofitting a live data center is a challenge in itself - and it can be hugely expensive as space for a refit is gradually opened up by not renewing leases.

🤔 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂

Perhaps there is room for retrofitting data centres in Singapore after all. What do you think?

In the meantime, check out two actual retrofits of live data centres from APAC here: https://lnkd.in/gsKRvFk3

𝗣𝗦: I've heard that the winners of the Data Centre - Call for Application (DC-CFA) exercise from last year have yet to start work: https://lnkd.in/gEGUi5AG.

I believe I know why. But if you have insights, feel free to drop me a DM.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: BDx