TikTok begins hiring for Kouvola data centre with first facility to open by year-end

TikTok has started recruiting staff for its first data centre in Finland, located in Kouvola, with the initial facility expected to become operational by the end of the year, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The centre, developed by property firm Hypercon and operator Dayone, will eventually consist of five halls spanning tens of thousands of square metres. The first hall is scheduled to launch in late 2024, according to Hypercon CEO Aleksi Taipale.

TikTok’s Nordic public affairs lead, Lukasz Lindell, confirmed the company has already hired a small team and is now expanding recruitment. Once fully operational, the site is expected to employ hundreds across various roles, including security and technical positions. Dayone, the Singapore-based operator, currently has dozens of vacancies open.

The facility aims to store and process data from TikTok’s over 200 million European users within the EU. In April, the company announced a second Finnish data centre in Lahti.

Construction of the Kouvola site, located seven kilometres from the city centre, began last year. At its peak, the project employs over 500 workers, with up to 500 delivery trucks arriving weekly. Developer Hypercon is also planning a potential expansion on adjacent land, though TikTok has not yet confirmed involvement in future phases.

“We need to get this operational before considering anything else,” Lindell stated.