When the social media phenomenon Facebook picked this chilly city 725 kilometres north of Stockholm for its first data centre outside the United States, it was wooed by the climate – literally and figuratively.
The combination of cool temperatures, hot business climate and a plentiful supply of locally-produced green energy swayed the Silicon Valley firm and now several others are set to follow Facebook's path to Sweden's northern frontier.
Facebook is itself set to expand by building another data centre and British Hydro 66, which sells data capacity, and bitcoinbolaget KNC Miner are among the firms heading for the Luleå region. In total there are five halls completed or under construction.
The development is welcomed and encouraged by local politicians who have however expressed fears that Sweden's high level of energy taxes may harm the development of what they are referring to as a new primary industry for the mineral rich region.
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