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Equinix (News - Alert), Inc., a provider of global data center services, has opened the first phase of its second International Business Exchange data center in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

The demand for premium colocation and data center services from both local and global corporations and banking organizations will be accommodated by the purpose-built GV2 IBX data center.

 

380 cabinets is added by the first phase to Equinix’s data center capacity in Geneva and when fully built out, will total 48,400 gross square feet with capacity for 760 cabinet equivalents.

 

With the addition of more than doubles Equinix’s footprint in the city, it becomes Equinix’s largest IBX in Switzerland. During 2010, further phases will open and will be timed to reflect market demand.

 

The new high specification GV2 IBX, located west of Geneva’s city center, is conveniently located to transport and airport links and is already well-connected to both metro and regional networks. This helps the Equinix customers to choose from a variety of options to access the data center.

 

In the Equinix GV2 IBX, customers can access the Equinix GV1 IBX through diverse fiber paths from multiple providers that reach more than 40 additional carriers and service providers which in turn offer network connectivity to the remainder of Switzerland and the rest of the world.

 

As Geneva is a key location between the Mediterranean fiber landing sites of Marseille, France and Palermo, Italy and the major metropolitan regions of Northern Europe, the data center, in addition to providing high-end services to corporations with operations in the city, will also enable Equinix to continue the expansion of its interconnect business.

 

Equinix GV2 IBX, with 11 carriers, including Belgacom (News - Alert), Cablecom, Cogent, Global Crossing, Level 3, Naxoo, SIG, Sunrise, Via Numerica and Viatel/Viaphone, already extending their networks to the new data center, is on track to become a major carrier hub for the region.

 

Access to the CIXP Internet Exchange Point which is co-operated by Equinix and CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, will also be provided by the Equinix GV2 data center.

 

“Geneva is a very strategic market for Equinix,” said Eric Schwartz, president of Equinix in Europe. “Not only is there growing local demand for high specification data center services – particularly from the city’s financial sector – the city’s location between Northern and Southern Europe means it is a key peering point for a increasing number of network operators. Our high specification, high capacity and network-rich GV2 data center more than doubles our capacity in Geneva, providing our existing and prospective customers with the space to support both their current and future data center operations.”

 

The GV2 IBX data center is part of Equinix’s $1.4 billion 2007-2010 global expansion plan. Plans to open a fourth IBX data center in Zurich, in Q2 2010 has also been announced by the company.

 

In related news, Equinix has announced that its wholly-owned Asia Pacific subsidiaries in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore have appointed DBS Bank Ltd, ING Bank N.V., Singapore Branch, The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. and GE Commercial Finance (Hong Kong) Ltd. to underwrite and arrange an approximate US$170 million Multicurrency Syndicated Term Loan Facility.