Tech

Facebook to build $500M data center in Texas

Facebook plans to invest about $500 million in a new data center in Fort Worth, Texas as it continues to boost infrastructure to keep up with its large user base, the company said Tuesday.

The facility will be Facebook's fifth data center worldwide once completed. The social media giant will use entirely renewable energy to power it.

A rendering of the upcoming Facebook data center in Fort Worth, Texas.
Source: Facebook

Facebook will hire at least 40 full-time employees for the center and expects the project to support local jobs in construction and other industries.

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Infrastructure has grown increasingly important for Facebook as more people around the world gain Internet access. The company reported more than 1.4 billion monthly active users in its first quarter this year.

Facebook added that it openly shares its data center designs to encourage sustainable facilities throughout the technology industry.

Facebook shares were about 1 percent lower in Tuesday afternoon trading.

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