Equinix has announced its intentions to open its first data centre in Bordeaux, France, in Q3 2021. BX1 will be the first carrier-neutral data centre in the New Aquitaine region, built to meet the needs of edge computing and growing digital ecosystems.
With direct fibre links to Equinix’s International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) sites in Paris, this new facility – dubbed BX1 – will provide global businesses and local authorities located in New Aquitaine with the ability to connect directly and securely to the world’s digital economy, via comprehensive digital ecosystems.
Increasing connectivity opportunities further, BX1 will provide a landing hub for the new submarine cable, AMITIE, due to link France to the United States and Great Britain, creating a new European gateway for data traffic between the United States and Europe.
Jean-Luc Vuillemin, executive vice president network infrastructures and international services at Orange commented, “It is hoped the landing of the new transatlantic mega cable near Bordeaux will ultimately enable the New Aquitaine region to become a global data exchange centre, building a strong and innovative digital ecosystem to support its economic development.
“This is the first time in several decades that a new submarine cable connectivity point has been created in France. This will contribute, on the one hand, to offering greater resilience in data transmissions between Europe and the United States, but also, as we did a few years ago in Marseilles, to maximise the economic benefits that can be brought by submarine cables, by irrigating new areas with high development potential. We worked together to achieve this, and are particularly pleased with the result.”
The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the true importance of digital technology. From telecommuting, to increased automation and collaboration, technological innovation has made it possible to comply with restrictions, but also to capture new opportunities.
Indeed, digital transformation is reshaping industries worldwide. According to the World Economic Forum, digital will account for 60% of global GDP by 2022, and it is estimated that 70% of the new value created over the next decade will be based on digital platforms.
However, this development is dependent on the ability to process data and create synergies between companies within physical infrastructures, located as close as possible to users.
Strategically located in the southwest of France, near the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux is establishing itself as a new hub on the map of global connectivity.
A pioneer of the smart city concept, Bordeaux has attracted a high concentration of start-ups and is home to cutting-edge industries such as aerospace and optics photonics. The city is also home to a growing business community of global and local companies that require low latency, increased bandwidth and strong connectivity to major network, content and cloud services providers, to establish and grow their businesses.
BX1 further supports this growing digital hub. And by providing access to Platform Equinix®, the development will offer a highly connected footprint of capabilities and services, enabling businesses to connect their core digital infrastructure around the world.
Featuring a modular design that is as efficient as it is flexible, multiple configurations across multiple footprints is possible. The site is due to provide colocation space of approximately 32,000 square feet (3,000 square meters).
And with sustainability the word on everyone’s lips right now, BX1 is being built in line with global environmental standards and will contribute to a portfolio of some of the most energy-efficient data centres in the world.
BX1 is due to utilise 100% renewable energy, with the decoupled energy platform supporting multiple power sources while providing greener energy storage and greater resilience.
