Data centre operators on board with energy rules

NewsNationalSaveShareNewsNationalNews HomeHome/News/NationalBillions in tech infrastructure needed for data centresBy Will Nicholas and Lucinda Garbutt-YoungOctober 8 2026 - 7:14pmBy Will Nicholas and Lucinda Garbutt-YoungOctober 8 2026 - 7:14pmSaveShareTelecommunications and tech executives were grilled about data centres at a parliamentary inquiry. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOSAustralia needs more investment in regional digital infrastructure before data centres can be built away from homes, an inquiry has heard. The nation has about 1. 6 gigawatts of data centre capacity, which is likely to extend to three gigawatts by the 2030 financial year. Much of that capacity ought to be in regional areas, where there is adequate land for development and limited noise pollution near homes, Telstra executives told a government committee on Thursday. Regional areas have the capacity, but not the infrastructure, for data centres.