Equinix completes US$780m acquisition of 13 Bell data centres in Canada

Author: Carly Weller

Digital infrastructure company, Equinix, has announced the completion of its acquisition of 13 data centres in Canada and its operations from BCE Inc. (Bell).

The US$780m all-cash transaction includes more than 600 customers, of which more than 500 are new to Equinix, and approximately 1.2 million gross square feet of data centre space.

Jason Bremner, Research Vice President, IDC, says; “Canada is the third largest economy in the Americas, and the tenth largest in the world. It is also home to a thriving aggregation of multinational corporations that are seeking a clear and rapid migration path to digital transformation.

“We expect to see Canadian spending on digital transformation reach C$28 billion in 2020 with a growth rate of 7%, as companies look to accelerate their digital initiatives. This acquisition will offer both Canadian businesses and multinationals operating in Canada with a strong new option for building out and managing their digital infrastructure at key edge metros within the country.” 

The company also announced that Andrew Eppich, a six-year veteran of Equinix originally from Toronto, has been appointed Managing Director, Canada.

In this role, Eppich will be responsible for defining Equinix’s strategic vision to: develop the enterprise market; deliver a strong network of prospects, customers and channel partners; provide thought leadership to accelerate new business and revenue growth; and expand Equinix’s role as a trusted advisor to companies as they expand their digital infrastructure.