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# Singapore now has 1.6GW of data centres, and a new law coming
- URL: https://www.techstories.co/singapore-now-has-1-6gw-of-data-centres-and-a-new-law-coming/
- Published: 2026-09-09T11:56:52.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-12T18:10:40.000Z
- Description: What the MDDI's press release reveals about the coming DIA.
- Author: Paul Mah
- Tags: Data Centres, Cloud

Last week, I wrote about the upcoming Digital Infrastructure Act (DIA). Yesterday, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) [announced](https://www.mddi.gov.sg/newsroom/new-digital-infrastructure-bill-to-strengthen-the-foundations-for-singapore-s-digital-economy/?ref=techstories.co) that the Bill has been introduced for First Reading in Parliament.

I read the press release and the published Public Consultation, and here's why I think the resulting Act could be the future of how data centres are managed. As an aside, MDDI now puts Singapore's data centre capacity at 1.6GW, up from the previous 1.4GW figure.

### Two licences, clearer lines

In my earlier posts, I mentioned how the overlaps between the two licences confused me. Specifically, a major cloud player running its own data centre could find itself subject to two sets of guidelines.

MDDI and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) say they have since made a distinction in the Bill for such operators. This matters because Singapore hosts multiple cloud players, from AWS, Azure, and Google to lesser-known names such as Huawei Cloud and OVHcloud.

The tweaks also make the intention of the two licences crystal clear. The Major FDI licence is about resilience, and covers large cloud platforms and data centres. The General DC licence is about sustainability, and covers data centres above 3MW. IMDA adds that it is exploring a single application form and set of documentation across covered data centres and FDI services.

### Bringing out the stick

Singapore uses the [Data Centre Call for Application](https://www.techstories.co/what-dc-cfa2-means-for-data-centres-in-singapore/) (DC-CFA) process to award data centre capacity. Among other things, the process is based on operators making specific commitments on the use of renewables.

From the press release, it is clear that provisions such as the ability to mandate the transfer of international carbon credits in the event of an emissions commitment breach are meant to let IMDA enforce those promises as licence conditions.

But what about tightening power usage effectiveness (PUE) requirements for existing data centres? On this, MDDI and IMDA say they will "provide sufficient transition time for existing DCs to meet regulatory requirements."

### The future of data centres?

The clarifications are heartening. On the other hand, everything continues to hinge on how the Act is actually implemented via the Code of Practice (COP), which will set out the detailed requirements.

Data centre regulation is no doubt top of everyone's mind right now, particularly after Thailand's abrupt pause on data centre construction last Friday.

Unlike Malaysia's [Data Centre Task Force](https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/publications/alerts/2025/08/malaysia-new-data-centre-framework-and-gbi-tool?ref=techstories.co) (DCTF), which focuses on development and investment, the DIA is a consolidated framework for regulating how data centres and cloud services actually operate, including establishing ongoing requirements.

In short, Singapore's DIA might well foreshadow how all data centres are regulated.