Big data centre coming to Cape Town
The Western Cape Government (WCG) today (23 May 2016) unveiled that it is embarking on a new project to build a big data centre in Cape Town. This is a joint initiative between the provincial government, the National Department of Science and Technology South Africa, the SKA SA (Square Kilometre Array), and the University of Cape Town, amongst others. The facility is intended to serve as a host for the SKA’s computing and data storage requirements, as well as for others.
Western Cape MEC of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde, said: “The facility will house the systems we need to process and store the data we receive from, amongst others, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA SA), who are key partners in the project. It’s also part of our focus on harnessing the power of real-time data to grow the economy and attract investment into the region.”
The WCG today put out a call to private sector players in the tech space requesting information on the best model for the Centre, in terms of how it is built and operated.
Winde said he was adamant to receive advice from private sector experts before putting the final bid documents together: “The advice we receive will be used to inform the final tender or request for proposal documents. We aim to collect as much information as possible on the best model for the Centre, before putting it out to tender later this year. There’s a deadline for SKA to move into the Centre by 2020, and we plan to move swiftly on this project. Our plan is to build a facility that is of a very high standard, taking the advice of experts into account.”
The RFI documents, detailing the information requirements, are available from the following email address: Nashreen.moosa@westerncape.gov.za.
All queries must be directed to Olivia Dyers at olivia.dyers@westerncape.gov.za. Please see the notice attached.
The closing date is 15h00, 15 June 2016.
About SKA
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope, with over a square kilometre (one million square metres) of collecting area. As one of the largest scientific endeavours in history, the SKA will bring together a wealth of the world’s finest scientists, engineers and policy makers to bring the project to fruition. The SKA will eventually use thousands of dishes that will enable astronomers to survey the Universe in unprecedented detail and survey the entire sky much faster, and in more detail, than any system currently in existence.
South Africa’s Karoo desert will host the core of the mid frequency dish array, ultimately extending over the African continent. As part of this system, SKA requires a facility in South Africa for its Science Data Processor (SDP), which will act principally as a primary filter that ‘cleans’ the raw data streaming from the array in real time.
The SKA will be built in two main phases in the late 2020s.
Enquiries:
Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson: Alan Winde, MEC of Economic Opportunities
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 060 970 4301
Email: bronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za
