Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the world’s digital infrastructure company™, today announced a new International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data center in Paris, France. Part of Equinix’s Saint-Denis campus, the new site—named PA10—will be the tenth data center opened by Equinix in Paris over the course of 20 years. It will provide global and local businesses and partners alike with the ability to connect directly and securely to the world’s digital economy, via comprehensive digital ecosystems.
Multiple sustainability initiatives are planned for PA10, including a heat recovery technology project to recover energy from customer equipment and transfer it to the urban heating network, and in turn, heat the local community swimming pool.
The rooftop of the new site will be home to a greenhouse of 430 m² in which fruit and vegetables will be grown. A hydroponic system aims to reduce water consumption by using a water recovery system and only irrigating the cultivated areas. The greenhouse will also utilize the heat recovery technology in place at PA10. The rooftop garden will help retain rainwater and reduce the amount of water directed to the sewer, in addition to reducing waste heat emissions.
Régis Castagné, Managing Director for France at Equinix, explains: “For a long time, the digital revolution has been seen as the cause of change in society. Its importance during the pandemic is an illustration of this: not only did it allow us to continue to work, learn, or be entertained, but it was also essential for economic recovery. At Equinix, we’re working to support this shift, spearheading innovations to address the environmental impact of digital. Indeed, it has become a societal issue that requires, among other things, increased dialogue between industry and local authorities to hasten progress in this area.”
The development of PA10 is part of Equinix’s ongoing commitment to the French market, further supporting the growth of the local digital economy and digital transformation strategies. The latest Global Interconnection Index (GXI Vol. 5), an annual market study published by Equinix, reveals the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the French economy into digital overdrive, with digital leaders moving four times faster than pre-pandemic levels.
The GXI predicts this digital acceleration will continue to fuel growth in interconnection bandwidth, and Paris is shown to be the fastest growing core metro in Europe and an important ecosystem for the transport, energy and utilities sectors. Supporting this, and at an initial build cost of US$163M, PA10 adds to a total investment from Equinix in France’s digital infrastructure of over US$1B to date.
“In support of the Choose France initiative, today’s investment and expansion serves to bolster the country’s digital infrastructure capabilities, providing local and multi-national corporations with a foundational source of differentiation and the global platform needed to thrive in today’s digital economy,” notes Charles Meyers, President and CEO at Equinix. “Equinix is connecting digital leaders, enabling them to simplify operations, improve customer experience and accelerate the launch of new products and services.”
Highlights/Key Facts
- Phase 1 of PA10 is due to provide 3,775 m2 of colocation space and 1,525 cabinets of capacity. Upon completion of all planned phases, the full site is expected to generate 5,775 m2 of colocation space with ~2,250 cabinets.
- Equinix’s strategic location in Paris gives its data centers a high level of carrier connectivity, making them ideal locations to procure bandwidth and optimize network performance. The metro is also a termination point for many undersea cable systems in the Mediterranean, bringing providers to Europe from Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
- Equinix is home to some of the most developed business ecosystems in Paris, featuring a dense concentration of banking, commerce, transport and telecommunications companies, 655+ unique customers and 18,025+ cross connects between business partners, networks and carriers. Customers and partners will have access to Equinix’s suite of interconnection and edge services, including fiber-neutral connectivity to more than 120 networks.
- Equinix is dedicated to providing sustainable digital infrastructure and has committed via science-based targets to reach climate-neutral globally by 2030. PA10 is being built in line with global environmental standards, designed with the aim to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified. PA10 is targeted to utilize 100% renewable energy and incorporate multiple sustainability initiatives in line with ISO 50001, the flagship international standard for improving energy performance.
Additional Resources
- Equinix Joins European Cloud and Data Center Providers to Make Historic Pledge Towards Climate Neutrality by 2030 [press release]
- Global Interconnection Index, Volume 5 [report]
- Learn more about our data centers in France [website]
- Learn more about Equinix Fabric™ [website]
- Learn more about Equinix’s sustainability initiatives [website]
- Learn more about Platform Equinix® [website]
- Learn more about the Choose France initiative [website]
