Colocation

Host-IT announces two new colocation customers

Host-IT, an nLighten company, has announced two new customers for its colocation and managed connectivity services based at nLighten’s UK data centres. Penetration testing firm, Ruptura Infosecurity, is now using the data centre in Milton Keynes; while NTT Stanton Lea, a charity, fundraising and marketing call centre business, is using the facility in Bristol. This follows a recent review by both firms of their immediate and future IT requirements, with Raptura deciding to migrate servers and switch equipment off premise, and NTT Stanton Lea moving servers directly from its previous local data centre provider. “When our previous data centre provider announced its closure at short notice, we knew we wanted to maintain a Bristol presence for the convenience of our staff,” says Nathan Wisbey, IT Manager at NTT Stanton Lea. “The immediate availability of Host-IT’s impressive and highly secure Bristol colocation solution was a huge relief. Their responsive, hands-on approach to accommodating our immediate requirements and being on-hand during our move was also a further major bonus.” NTT has been implementing telemarketing awareness and fund raising campaigns on behalf of charities and the third sector since 1988. It is the call centre behind various well-known national campaigns, including, for example, ‘The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ organised by Macmillan Cancer Support. For larger client projects, the company may process as many as 100,000 data records. Tom Heenan, Founder and Managing Director of Ruptura Infosecurity, adds, “Our new conveniently sited and highly certified colocation solution in Milton Keynes meets our requirement for security and compliance. This is especially important for our financial and professional services clients due to it being a fully UK-based and secure data centre location. The colocation approach versus hosting in the public cloud was a prerequisite for us due to the highly specialised and sensitive IT environments we manage. We can spin-up new penetration testing services and tools very quickly while knowing Host-IT’s excellent tech support is always on hand should we need it.” Ruptura InfoSecurity’s remote-based team of highly accredited penetration testing specialists provides a range of cyber security services to over 150 end clients. These include major financial institutions, fintechs, crypto exchanges, HR, legal and insurance clients. CREST approved ethical hacking and adversary simulation techniques are deployed to test ‘real-life’ vulnerabilities of existing and new applications and services. Andrew Willis, Managing Director of Host-IT, comments, “We are delighted to have been able to respond quickly to Ruptura and NTT Stanton Leas’s requirements. We are also pleased by the smooth migration of their equipment which is testament to the quality of our facilities at both locations and the high standard of technical support available.” For more from Host-IT, click here.

TRG Datacenters appointment supports expansion plans

TRG Datacenters, a rapidly growing data centre and colocation provider, has announced that Robert West has joined the company as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Speaking on his appointment, Robert says, "I've known Chris Hinkle and the TRG Datacenters team for several years and was intrigued by their drive to turn the industry on its head. TRG is known for delivering an exceptional customer experience with its fully managed Colo+ platform and free cross connects. My mission is to help TRG and the team accelerate awareness, drive revenue growth and expand into new markets." Chris Hinkle, Chief Executive Officer of TRG Datacenters, adds, "We look forward to Robert’s strategic vision and expertise in driving revenue by leading our sales and marketing teams. Robert is a strategic hire for TRG, with the clear focus on scaling up our business with expansion and entrances into new markets. His passion for the industry makes him an excellent cultural fit for us." Robert joins TRG Datacenters at a time when the company has plans to expand its colocation offering to multiple cities across the US to meet demand for both data centre expansion with the rise of AI and the use of its innovative Colo+ service. Colo+ is a fully managed colocation service, providing high levels of reliability and convenience, and is distinguished by features such as overnight migrations within 12 hours, exceptional rack management and customer service. The service is designed to significantly reduce human error caused downtime, which causes 70% of worldwide outages according to the Uptime Institute. TRG says that Robert brings with him a wealth of experience to support this growth. His 20+ years experience in sales and marketing, alongside time at another national colocation provider, means he offers a keen insight into lead generation, building and maintaining positive client relationships, and engineering product identities. Furthermore, Robert's understanding of enterprise data centre use cases gives TRG another level of depth to its leadership team. His extensive experience in building best-in-class teams, creating efficient processes and executing strategies will support TRG’s growth towards becoming a nationally recognised data centre brand.

atNorth announces new Chief Development Officer

atNorth, a Nordic colocation, high-performance computing and artificial intelligence service provider, has announced the appointment of Anna Kristín Pálsdóttir as Chief Development Officer. An experienced engineer with extensive experience in leading innovation and operations in large corporations, Anna will be tasked with guiding atNorth’s development initiatives, driving the expansion of atNorth’s existing sites, and delivering new data centre campuses across the Nordics as the business continues its significant growth plans. As the demand for sustainable infrastructure continues to increase, atNorth says that it remains committed to its goal of raising awareness of the environmental, technological, and financial benefits of its data centres. Anna’s background in innovation and service performance complements this goal. An expert in portfolio strategy, governance and business engagement, the hire also supports atNorth’s dedication to investing in the right people to ensure demand is met with speed and second-to-none customer service. “Anna has an established history of achievement in dynamic innovation and cross-organisational operations”, says Eyjolfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO at atNorth. “Her collaborative leadership style and strategic vision make her ideally suited to help us grow our data centre portfolio. We are delighted to welcome her to our unified and dedicated team”. Prior to joining atNorth, Anna held several senior positions at Marel, a global provider of advanced food processing solutions. Most recently, she served as President North America (NAM) and Executive Vice President, Innovation at Marel and is also a member of several boards of directors. Anna has a master’s degree in engineering from the Technical University of Berlin. Her wealth of experience brings a unique visualisation of global business transformation and the importance of messaging and communication, atNorth says. “atNorth’s expansion strategy has been hugely successful and illustrates the quality of the solutions they offer”, Anna says. “As the demand for their sustainable infrastructure continues to increase, I am excited to join this cohesive team to lead the development of atNorth’s new data centre sites”. atNorth’s success is evidenced by its continual industry recognition and the increasing demand for its sustainable high-performance infrastructure. The business is currently building three new sites: FIN02, a 15MW site near Helsinki, Finland; FIN04, a 60MW mega site in Kouvola, Finland; and DEN01, a 30MW data centre in Copenhagen, Denmark, in direct response to this demand. For more from atNorth, click here.

Pulsant commits to edge partner ecosystem

Pulsant, a UK-based provider of data centre and edge infrastructure, has launched a partner programme designed to create a partner ecosystem enabling regional businesses and channel partners to jointly capitalise on rising demand for colocation, Edge, and IaaS solutions. Pulsant's new programme offers partners access to its platformEDGE digital infrastructure and aims to develop a collaborative ecosystem by providing Managed Service Providers (MSPs) with new commercial models, sales enablement resources, incentives and dedicated support staff. Not only will this facilitate digital innovation while accelerating hybrid cloud adoption, but it will also allow partners to deliver compelling solutions for their clients without major capital outlays. Wendy Shearer, Director of Partners and Ecosystems, comments, "The UK Digital Strategy emphasises the need for partnerships to drive innovation. As organisations seek to take advantage of AI, IoT and other transformative technologies, they require robust regional infrastructure supported by a strong ecosystem. "Regional firms often lack these resources to build successful digital infrastructure investments. Our interconnected ecosystem strengthens their ability to capitalise on high-growth markets such as AI or IoT, turning collaboration between enterprises, service providers, platforms and connectivity companies into competitive advantage." Pulsant's established environment already includes over 200 IT service providers, 100 SaaS platforms, 500+ enterprises, and connectivity providers including LINX and Megaport. Combined with its 12 regional data centres, this ecosystem provides the foundation for channel partners and their clients to fully leverage emerging tech capabilities. "The digital economy demands robust infrastructure combined with thriving partner ecosystems to foster sustainable growth and transformation," Wendy adds. "Our programme facilitates that collaborative environment regionally." To support the programme's expansion, Pulsant bolstered its channel team by hiring a Head of Partnerships and three Regional Partner Development Managers. For more from Pulsant, click here.

Colohouse acquires Hivelocity to create next-generation service provider

Colohouse, a portfolio company of Valterra Partners and a player in the colocation, cloud, hosting and network services sector, has announced the successful acquisition of Hivelocity, a provider of bare metal hosting. This strategic move combines the portfolio of two well-established providers with a focus on cloud and bare metal services to meet growing market demand. "Our acquisition of Hivelocity is a strategic move to enhance our capabilities and reinforce our commitment to delivering top-tier IT infrastructure services," says Jeremy Pease, CEO at Colohouse. "Together, Colohouse and Hivelocity create a unique, next-generation provider that places the customer’s needs and success at the forefront, providing them with the connectivity and computing power required to deploy and manage modern applications and data.” "Our mission at Hivelocity is to create a company with a singular focus on simplifying hosting with an exceptional customer experience. We have continuously excelled at our mission, grown our customer base and kept up with their demands, which led us from a single rack of servers to operating 40+ world-class data centres on six continents,” says Mike Architetto, CEO of Hivelocity. “Combined with Colohouse, Hivelocity can accelerate its capabilities and continue its legacy of simplifying IT for its customers.” Key benefits of the acquisition:  Full-service hybrid cloud product offering: The acquisition bolsters Colohouse's infrastructure and existing hosting services with Hivelocity's robust bare metal servers, network automation, and virtual private cloud solutions. Combined, the company can address the demand for a more comprehensive range of solutions for applications and data that require more computing power and connectivity options as customers seek to optimise cost, performance and security. Automation and self-service capabilities across private infrastructure: As a next-generation service provider, the combined company will enable rapid deployment and scalability of private compute and connectivity resources across dozens of domestic and international locations. This platform enables and integrates modern capabilities including developer tools, APIs, and SDN. Top tier talent helping customers succeed: The acquisition is founded on a shared commitment to focus on our customer’s needs and success. The most impactful solutions provide automation when wanted and expertise when needed. With decades of experience as a service provider, the combined teams are committed to exceptional customer service. As businesses increasingly rely on advanced IT infrastructure to drive growth, the acquisition of Hivelocity by Colohouse sets the stage for the most comprehensive and mature suite of hosted infrastructure paired with expertise, resources, and innovation capabilities. Kevin Reed, Managing Director of Valterra Partners, adds, “The combination of Colohouse and Hivelocity is the result of a multiyear strategy to acquire and develop a differentiated data centre and hybrid cloud provider that provides a platform of significant scale within a high growth market. The combined business provides a talented executive team, completes strategic offerings and expands capacities across a substantial geographic footprint that will support substantial growth.” Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor and Hogan Lovells served as legal advisor to Colohouse. DH Capital served as financial advisor and Gunster served as legal advisor to Hivelocity.

Airtel Africa to host ceremony for Nxtra data centre in Lagos

Airtel Africa has been set to host a ceremony to kick off the construction of its first Nxtra data centre. The event is scheduled for 12 March 2024 at Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos. The ceremony is expected to have in attendance distinguished guests, including the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun; and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani. According to Airtel, the event will mark a milestone in Airtel Africa's quest to enhance data sovereignty, security, and preservation within the continent. With the exponential growth of digital services and the increasing need for robust data capacity, the facility is poised to address the evolving requirements of businesses, governments, and large corporations in ensuring the integrity and accessibility of critical information and digital connections. The business-agnostic centres are planned to be built in major cities in all the 14 countries, where Airtel Africa maintains operations.   The Lagos location, which will be a 34MW data centre, is planned to operate with a remarkable PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) score of 1.3, while hosting high density racks. Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Carl Cruz, notes, “We are certain that this infrastructure will propel Lagos, Nigeria, towards a sustainable and more inclusive digital age.” The Nxtra data centre is in line with Airtel’s steadfast commitment to pioneering technological solutions that empower communities, drive economic growth, and propel the continent towards a prosperous future. In addition to the expected senior government officials, the Nxtra event will also have in attendance other prominent guests, including industry leaders in tech, finance, construction and media.

Servecentric and Digital Realty extend €10 million deal

Servecentric, the Irish data centre colocation, cloud and connectivity services provider, has announced an extension of its lease deal with colocation data centre provider Digital Realty to the value of €10 million.  The six-year deal will enable Servecentric to enhance its service portfolio and increase capacity for both existing and new customers, generating additional revenue streams across local and global markets. By targeting a wider audience of SMEs and enterprises, Servecentric will be equipped to strengthen its presence in Ireland and further expand its position in international markets including Europe, the US and India. This growth will mainly consist of projects spanning areas such as cloud repatriation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), security and managed service hosting. Underpinning these projects will be Servecentric’s relationships with 18 telecom carrier partners, which will aid the expansion of its colocation business and help to deliver greater connectivity, security and reliability for organisations. The extended partnership with Digital Realty will enable Servecentric’s customers to scale by facilitating more colocation and cloud projects and delivering more connectivity options for building hybrid multi-cloud networks. Customers will also have access to a suite of hyperscale on-ramp solutions including local high-capacity AWS Direct Connect port connectivity services. Following significant investment in improvements, the Digital Realty facility now delivers enhanced physical security, improved resilience and increased operational efficiency. Furthermore, customers will benefit from decreased downtime through onsite technical support services from Servecentric. This deal extension follows a period of growth for Servecentric, with the company announcing in August 2023 that it had generated revenues of €6.6 million from international markets over the last two years. Brian Roe, Servecentric CEO, says, “The demand for cloud, colocation and connectivity services is on the rise – and that’s not going to stop any time soon. This deal means that we can continue delivering the best customer experience and most responsive technical support, while enhancing our offering and enabling us to take on new business. “It shows our commitment to the market and provides an incredible launchpad from which to drive further growth throughout 2024 and beyond. Working with leaders like Digital Realty helps us to uphold world-class standards and identify more opportunities not only in Ireland but also across international markets.”

Data centre colocation market is expected to reach $279.1bn by 2034

The data centre colocation market is estimated to be worth US$69.7bn in 2024 and is projected to be valued at US$279.1bn in 2034. Between 2024 and 2034, the industry is expected to register a growth rate of 14.9%. The growing need for scalable and reliable IT infrastructure in industries owing to digital transformation is expected to drive the growth of the data centre colocation market during the forecast period. The rising reliance on cloud services fuels the demand for colocation facilities that provide connectivity and support for cloud deployments. Colocation complements cloud strategies, offering hybrid solutions for businesses. Colocation facilities implement advanced security protocols, including physical security, network security, and compliance with industry standards, ensuring data protection and minimising cyber security risks driving the growth of the data centre colocation in various industries. The growing unique IT infrastructure requirements due to compliance and security needs in finance and healthcare, lead to tailored colocation solutions catering to these sectors. The data centre colocation market in the United States continues to evolve, driven by technological advancements, changing business needs, and the growing importance of reliable, scalable, and secure data infrastructure. The Europe data centre colocation market is currently undergoing substantial growth, primarily propelled by the expanding utilisation of IoT, cloud computing, and AI/ML technologies. Key takeaways from the market study: From 2019 to 2023, the data centre colocation market was valued at a CAGR of 12.6% Based on end-users, the large enterprises segment is expected to account for a share of 63.0% in 2024 Global data centre colocation demand in China is predicted to account for a CAGR of 15.4% in 2024 In the United States, the data centre colocation industry is expected to account for a CAGR of 12.7% in 2024 Germany is projected to expand by a value CAGR of 14.4% between 2024 and 2034 The data centre colocation market in Japan is anticipated to record a CAGR of 16.1% in 2024 “The growing digitalisation across industries and increased importance of advanced IT infrastructure is anticipated to drive the market growth during the forecast period," says Sudip Saha, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Future Market Insights. Competitive landscape Key players focus on organic growth strategies like product launches and approval. Collaborations and partnerships with key players and acquiring niche players are critical strategies followed by leading players in the data centre colocation market. Some of the developments in the data centre colocation market are: CyrusOne has expanded rapidly, particularly in the United States, providing colocation solutions to numerous enterprises. The company's emphasis on customised solutions, hyperscale facilities, and energy-efficient data centres has influenced market trends. Cyxtera Technologies offers a suite of colocation, cyber security, and analytics services. The company's integration of cyber security features within its colocation offerings has impacted the market by emphasising security as a critical aspect of colocation services. These insights are based on a report on the Data Centre Colocation Market by Sudip Saha, Principal Consultant, Future Market Insights.

Vertiv opens a new manufacturing facility and test lab in India

Vertiv has announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Pune, India. The opening was to meet the surging demand for data centres and supporting infrastructure solutions globally, including India and the APAC region. The new plant manufactures thermal management products and solutions tailored for colocation, cloud, telecom, and enterprise data centres, catering to both domestic and international markets. This is Vertiv’s third facility in India, joining with existing manufacturing facilities in Ambernath and Pune. Spanning 4.8 acres (210,000ft2), the facility supports the manufacturing of cooling solutions ranging from 200W to 2MW+, including adiabatic free cooling chillers, large custom air handling units (AHU), thermal wall units, a new range of large direct expansion (DX), packaged DX, free cooling with economiser units, a new range of in-row cooling units, wall mount units, and rack cooling systems. The facility also boasts state-of-the-art psychometric labs, providing performance testing, a customer experience centre, and design support capabilities. It is located in an India Green Building Council (IGBC) compliant park focusing on sustainability and reducing environmental impact. CEO of Vertiv, Giordano (Gio) Albertazzi, says, “With increasing global digitalisation and the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the data centre industry is experiencing growth and a demand for more capacity, including for data centre thermal and power infrastructure. India’s emergence as a data centre hub in the APAC region is a key reason that we built this third manufacturing facility in India, and it reinforces our commitment to nurturing the country’s data centre ecosystem while also addressing global demand.”

Prescient Data Centres unveils its new website

Prescient Data Centres, a commercial carrier-neutral data centre based in Northern Ireland, has unveiled its new website. The newly designed website features a full suite of enhanced services and solutions, bolstering its position as the only neutral colocation operator, with a facility in Northern Ireland directly serving the region with connectivity and reach beyond. Prescient’s new website showcases a comprehensive look at the data centre, providing details regarding the data centre’s security, safety, building management information, and cooling and power solutions. The website also focuses on colocation, connectivity, and support services. Additionally, it shares the company’s solutions and partners, including details about the at Prescient. “We are committed to giving our customers, present and future, the best possible experience with Prescient Data Centres,” says Doug Friend, CEO of Prescient. “Through our new website, we clearly communicate our industry-leading services for our customers and those who are considering making Northern Ireland a home for their data.” Prescient Data Centres operates Northern Ireland’s first commercial carrier-neutral data centre. The company offers data centre services in colocation, connectivity, and other solutions to assist in reaching local, national, and international digital infrastructure. Located within Prescient DC’s world-class facility, it offers super-efficient and exceptionally resilient, high-security data storage. Prescient DC’s unique location offers stress-free access to the UK and EU. Its proximity to Northern Ireland enables low-latency connections to North America with proximity to the cable landing, located in Northern Ireland. This strategic location allows the independent data centre to serve as a pivotal hub for cloud services in the region.