Leading Edge Data Centres, backed by a $20 million investment from Washington H Soul Pattinson, is on the hunt for land across the Australian east coast, as it looks to secure sites in key regional locations on which it will build more than 20 data centres over the next three years.

Chris Thorpe, the founder and chief executive of the privately owned company, said its first data centre opened in Newcastle earlier this month and more will follow in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

Chris Thorpe, chief executive of Leading Edge Data Centres, says the business is raising more capital to help fund its rapid expansion.

Mr Thorpe said Leading Edge had secured 12 sites via long-term leases in NSW and construction was well advanced on its Tamworth and Dubbo data centres in the state’s north-west.

Facilities will open in Albury, Coffs Harbour, Wagga Wagga and Bathurst later this year or early 2022, rapidly building a viable and interlinked network.

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