Extra Power Helps Equinix Expand in London

For major data center providers, more power equals more colo space to sell. That's the case for Equinix (EQIX), which has arranged for additional power from the electric utility serving its London LD2 data center. Power capacity issues in London have limited the growth of a number of providers at a time when colocation space is at a premium.

Equinix also upgraded the building's cooling infrastructure, uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and generator backup systems, allowing it to open additional colocation space to customers in a new suite. The concept was developed in partnership with existing customers who have seen their power requirements increase significantly in recent years.

"This power upgrade has enabled us to help our existing customers grow as they seek to access more computing power," said Wynn McCabe, sales director of Equinix UK Ltd. "It has also allowed Equinix to release more colocation space which has been in demand for some time now. Furthermore, performing a complex upgrade in a live environment is particularly challenging and the team has achieved this while providing seamless power continuity to customers."

LD2 is in a prime location close to the UK's Silicon Valley. As one of the first sites to be opened, LD2 has a strong customer base and is served by 17 network providers including Abovenet, Cable & Wireless, Colt, Exponential-e, Global Crossing, Verizon and Virgin Media. The site is connected to Equinix's LondonCity, London Park Royal, and London Slough data centers.

Data center developers in London are working closely with local utilities to line up power for a number of new facilities under construction. New projects are underway for TeleCityRedbus, Easyspace, Colt, IXEurope and Digital Realty Trust (DLR). This surge in data center building was predicted in a 2006 survey by DataCenterDynamics of attendees at its London conference.

Equinix recently completed its $555 million acquisition of IXEurope, giving the company an additional 14 data centers with 380,000 square feet of space throughout Europe, including centers in London, Zurich, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Dusseldorf and Geneva.