Facebook to invest $ 1.6bn in 2013

New York: Social networking giant Facebook, whose user base is expanding primarily on the back of rising

penetration in emerging markets like India and Brazil,

will make capital investments worth $ 1.6 billion this year. In the first half of this year, the California- based

firm incurred a capital expenditure of $ 595 million on setting up data centres and storage infrastructure,

among others. Besides, Facebook shelled out $ 221 million on acquisitions and other assets such

as patents. “We anticipate making capital expenditures

in 2013 of approximately $ 1.6 billion,” Facebook said

in a filing to the US Securities and Exchange

Commission ( SEC). Industry watchers feel that the company will be looking to capitalise on its user numbers and its mobile

advertising base. Bolstered by rising number of users in high growth markets like India and Brazil, Facebook raked in 61 per

cent — $ 1.60 billion — of its total revenues from advertising in the second

quarter of this year. Internet major Google generated 92 per cent of its revenues from its advertisers in the six months ended June 30. Facebook’s invest

ment plans would get a boost as it posted strong second quarter

results.