Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (MTS), a full-service communications provider for consumers and businesses, has revealed plans for a $50-million data centre to be built in Manitoba. The 70,000-square-foot facility will be the only custom-built data centre of its size in the province.

Designed to meet the requirements of several businesses, the facility will be built to accommodate future growth and expansion. MTS plans to take advantage of Manitoba’s cooler climate, clean energy supply and reduced real estate costs, and directly translate these factors into savings for customers.

“With the only data centre like this in Manitoba, MTS customers can be assured that their IT infrastructure will operate reliably and securely, and that their important data will stay safely within our province,” says Pierre Blouin, CEO of Manitoba Telecom Services. “This is an exciting opportunity that is expected to provide growth, is in demand by our current business customers and represents a logical extension of our existing telecom services.”

Slated for completion in 2015, the facility will enter construction this year. This announcement marks the company’s second expansion into the IT sector.