Global data center operator Equinix has invested a total of $103 million in their new build in Frankfurt, Germany. The first phase of the new data center, which was opened yesterday, adds 4,800 m² to Equinix’s colocation space.
Colocation clients may use a comprehensive variety of connectivity and colocation services at the carrier-neutral FR8 facility. These include the company’s software-defined Equinix Fabric service, which enables companies to rapidly and flexibly connect to major cloud and network providers globally. It also includes Equinix’s Network Edge, with which clients may virtually update networks. The Equinix Metal automatic bare metal service may be accessed through the Frankfurt data center campus as well, allowing for setup and delivery in just a few minutes.
“Frankfurt is not only a European financial capital, but also one of the world’s leading data hubs,” said Jens-Peter Feidner, Managing Director, Germany, Equinix. “With the accelerated digitization manifesting across industries, the need for computing power and private connectivity has also increased. Data centers are an essential part of the digital economy, providing the fundamental infrastructure through which businesses, clouds and services interconnect to innovate and succeed. The sustainable expansion and operation of this infrastructure is a key concern for us; FR8 not only provides customers with a high-performance IT infrastructure, but also one that aims to be as efficient and climate-friendly as possible.”
To date, Equinix has invested $1.6 billion in Germany with facilities in Munich, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Hamburg. Globally, the colocation and interconnection provider has a network of over 230 IBX (International Business Exchange) data centers in 65 markets.
Data Center Sustainability
FR8 was intended to fulfill the highest requirements of sustainability and efficiency. The data center will have a green façade and roof like all new Equinix builds in Frankfurt. This strategy helps to integrate the building into the cityscape and adds favorably to the local microclimate.
As with all Equinix data centers in Germany, the new facility in Frankfurt is powered with 100% renewable energy – guaranteed by a green power certificate from local supplier, Mainova.
“By co-locating in data centers, customers can save on their own hardware, reduce operating costs and improve the energy efficiency of their digital infrastructure,” said Jennifer Ruch, Sustainability Director, Equinix. “On a global scale, Equinix aims to continuously optimize its data center design and invest in energy efficiency upgrades and new technologies to further reduce CO2 emissions. One local example of this is a joint pilot project with Darmstadt-based start-up etalytics in Germany, which aims to optimize the energy required for cooling data centers through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).”
Equinix is one of the first in the global data center industry to commit to the goal of achieving global climate-neutral business operations by 2030 based on science-based targets (SBTs). The company is a founding member of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Operator Pact, which reinforces this goal at a European level.
“With the new FR8 data center, we are again expanding our presence at the strategically important Frankfurt campus,” said Eugene Bergen Henegouwen, President, EMEA, Equinix.
“It offers our customers additional capacity and interconnection options that will allow them to implement their digitization on the foundation of a highly efficient infrastructure. We expect the sustainability measures taken in this context will make a valuable contribution to achieving climate neutrality by 2030.”
