In a significant move that underscores its commitment to meeting the growing demand for internet services in the United Kingdom, Google has unveiled plans to invest a staggering $1 billion in the construction of a cutting-edge data center just outside London.
The tech giant, owned by Alphabet Inc., made the announcement on Thursday, solidifying its position as a major player in the UK’s technology industry.
Situated on a sprawling 33-acre site in Waltham Cross, approximately 15 miles north of central London, the data center represents a substantial expansion of Google’s infrastructure. The site was acquired by the company in 2020, signaling a long-term strategic vision for its operations in the region.
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The British government, which has been actively encouraging business investments to support the development of new infrastructure, especially in burgeoning sectors like technology and artificial intelligence, welcomed Google’s substantial investment. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the move as a “huge vote of confidence” in the UK’s technological prowess and growth potential.
“Google’s $1 billion investment is testament to the fact that the UK is a center of excellence in technology and has huge potential for growth,” Sunak stated in an official release from Google.
This announcement follows Google’s recent acquisition of a central London office building near Covent Garden in 2022, along with another site in the bustling King’s Cross neighborhood. The latter location is not only earmarked for a new office but is also home to Google’s artificial intelligence subsidiary, DeepMind.
The tech giant’s investment in the UK aligns with broader industry trends, as companies race to bolster their data center capacity to support the expanding scope of artificial intelligence services.
The move also comes on the heels of Microsoft’s announcement to inject a substantial £2.5 billion (equivalent to $3.2 billion) into the UK over the next three years, with a focus on enhancing its data center capabilities to drive future AI services.
The Waltham Cross data center is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening Google’s infrastructure, ensuring robust and reliable services for users across the UK. As digital reliance continues to surge, fueled by advancements in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and other technology-driven fields, investments of this magnitude underscore the critical role these data centers play in supporting the digital economy.
Google’s commitment to the UK market reflects not only its recognition of the country’s technological expertise but also its anticipation of sustained growth and innovation in the region.
The company’s strategic investments in both physical infrastructure and intellectual capital are believed to reinforce its dedication to shaping the future of technology in the UK and beyond.
Manta Network harmed by DDoS attack
Manta Network, a privacy-preserving decentralized exchange platform, suffered a severe distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack during its token issuance event on January 20. The attack disrupted the network’s functionality and prevented many participants from accessing the platform and claiming their tokens.
The Manta team has issued an official statement apologizing for the incident and explaining the measures they are taking to mitigate the damage and prevent future attacks.
According to the statement, the DDoS attack was launched by an unknown malicious actor who targeted the Manta Network’s website, API, and smart contracts. The attack overwhelmed the network’s resources and caused delays, errors, and failures in the token issuance process.
The Manta team said that they detected the attack shortly after it started and deployed countermeasures to restore the network’s stability and security. However, the attack lasted for several hours and affected thousands of users who were unable to claim their tokens or interact with the platform.
The Manta team assured that no funds were lost or compromised during the attack and that all users who participated in the token issuance event will receive their tokens as soon as possible. The team also said that they are working with security experts and law enforcement agencies to investigate the attack and identify the perpetrators. The team vowed to take legal action against the attackers and to implement additional security measures to protect the network from future attacks.
The Manta Network is a novel project that aims to provide privacy and anonymity for decentralized exchange users. The platform leverages zero-knowledge proofs and other cryptographic techniques to enable users to trade any pair of tokens without revealing their identities or transaction details. The platform also supports cross-chain interoperability and scalability through its own parachain on Polkadot. The Manta Network’s native token, MAT, is used for governance, staking, and paying fees on the platform.
The token issuance event was a highly anticipated event for the Manta Network community and attracted a lot of attention from investors and enthusiasts. The event was conducted through a Balancer Liquidity Bootstrapping Pool (LBP), which is a mechanism that allows projects to distribute their tokens in a fair and transparent way.
The LBP adjusts the token price dynamically based on supply and demand, creating a price discovery process that benefits both buyers and sellers. The Manta Network’s LBP was scheduled to last for 48 hours, starting from January 20 at 12:00 UTC.
The DDoS attack was a major setback for the Manta Network project and its supporters, who were looking forward to participating in the token issuance event and accessing the platform’s features. The attack also raised concerns about the security and resilience of decentralized platforms in general, especially those that deal with sensitive data and transactions.
The Manta Network team has expressed its commitment to overcome this challenge and deliver on its vision of creating a privacy-preserving decentralized exchange platform for the crypto community.