Equinix Plugs Into Even Lower Latency

connectivity

Lexent Metro Connect has completed an "ultra low latency" dark fiber connection between two Equinix data centers in Secaucus, New Jersey and major carrier hotels in Manhattan, providing even faster connections for Equinix' growing high-speed trading ecosystem. The new dark fiber route follows the shortest distance across the Hudson River to key Manhattan connectivity hubs at 60 Hudson Street, 32 Avenue of the America, 75 Broad Street and 111 Eighth Avenue.

Equinix (EQIX) said the new link will offer route latency of less than 100 microseconds between its NY2 and NY4 facilities in Secaucus and Manhattan, enabling global banks, financial exchanges and other enterprises on Lexent's fiber optic backbone to link with the traders, market data providers and technology utilities operating in the NY4 and NY2 centers.

"By utilizing Lexent Metro Connect, the financial community operating within our NY4 and NY2 centers in Secaucus can tap into fast, high-quality dark fiber routes to securely access New York's carrier hotels," said John Knuff, director of business development for Equinix. "This provides them with optimized, low-latency links to New York City's financial exchanges and other key investment buildings."

The new fiber link illustrates the accelerating arms race in low latency trading, which is a major driver for the growth of the data center business in northern New Jersey. Equinix is building out the final phase of its huge NY4 data center in Secaucus, while Savvis has announced a major expansion of its Weehawken trading hub and NYSE Euronext is building a huge data center in Mahwah to expand its colocation services for traders. 

"Latency is arguably one of the most important factors driving financial firms' metro network decisions today," said Ray La Chance, President and CEO of Lexent Metro Connect. "We have seen a surge in financial firms requesting private dark fiber solutions utilizing shorter optical routes, and with no mid-span equipment. In response, Lexent has built upon its core regional dark fiber footprint, removing the 'fiber variable' and allowing its clients to deploy latency optimized applications unparalleled by comparable carrier solutions."

Cabling image by Sugree via Flickr.