Regional digital transformation accelerated with Equinix’s fifth data center in Manchester scheduled to open in the first half of 2022.
Equinix, Inc., the world’s digital infrastructure company™, has announced plans to build a new International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data center in the Agecroft Commerce Park in Salford, Manchester, UK. As the UK’s second-largest city, Manchester occupies a key strategic location at the intersection of the UK’s highly resilient “figure-of-eight” fibre-optic network. The new IBX—called MA5—will be Equinix's fifth data center in the Greater Manchester area and is scheduled to open in Q2 2022.
Manchester is Europe’s second-largest creative, digital and media hub, housing MediaCity UK—one of the world’s most advanced media centers and home to the BBC’s headquarters. The city has a fast-growing technology scene, noted for eCommerce, and an emerging start-up ecosystem. It is home to low-latency connectivity through network routes to the United States and has access to international subsea cables via Ireland and the West of England.
UK Science and Innovation Minister George Freeman, said: “The UK is one of the world’s most digitally advanced economies. Through government and industry working together we are investing in new 5G and next-generation digital technologies to support UK businesses to build back better from the pandemic.
“Equinix’s new Manchester data centre will not only help to create well-paying jobs across Manchester and the wider North West but will also make sure businesses have the digital technology needed to succeed and grow in global markets.”
Lorraine Wilkinson, Vice President of Sales, UK, Equinix, noted: “With a rich industrial history, Manchester has long been one of the UK’s leading cities for business, catering to globally renowned companies and start-ups looking to grow and scale their operations. MA5 will provide high-speed connectivity to the North of England, facilitating the next generation of digital transformation within the region. The new site will bring Equinix’s total investment in Manchester to over £130 million, and £1 billion+ in the UK’s digital infrastructure as a whole.”
MA5 has been designed for high density deployments in support of digital transformation projects across industries. It will offer state-of-the-art colocation, interconnection and edge services, including Equinix Fabric™, Equinix Internet Exchange® and Network Edge nodes, making MA5 an attractive new interconnection hub and remote geo-redundant deployment location for London.
Katie Gallagher, Managing Director, Manchester Digital, added: “Greater Manchester continues to be a thriving region for both global tech companies and start-ups. We’re pleased Equinix is opening their fifth data center here, which will bring with it even more career opportunities for the tech industry, as well as supporting the city’s digital infrastructure. We look forward to working closely with Equinix to support and develop the tech industry across the city as it continues to grow.”
