United States-based data centre and Internet exchange firm Equinix Inc., today, opened the doors to its new facility in Toronto as part of an international expansion effort that will see the company open five data centres in four continents.
The new TR2 data centre in downtown Toronto offers interconnections for 155 enterprise companies, financial services firms more than 60 cloud and network providers that have collocated with Equinix via the company’s original data centre in Toronto, the TR1.
TR2, which is located at the corner of Parliament and Front streets, has direct access to the Toronto Internet Exchange (TorIX), a not-for-profit Internet exchange point (IXP) located at a carrier hotel at 151 Front Street West in Toronto. The TorIX is the largest IXP in Canada with over 180 members. TR1 is located at 151 Front Street West
“Our new state-of-the-art data centre, TR2, combines superior network density, best-in-class design and direct access to diverse routes in and out of the metro for mission critical applications,” said Karl Strobmeyer, president of Equinix Americas in a statement today. “Leading companies are accelerating their business across Platform Equinix and TR2 extends this opportunity in a top international market.”
Among the companies using TR2 are mobile and Internet service providers Rogers, Telus, Cogeco, Allstream, Cogent, Beanfield and CFN Networks, as well as foreign exchange broker Oanda.
The TR2 IBX data centre has approximately 3,158 square metres of colocation space, and 675 cabinets available to customers during its initial phase.
Equinix invested $42 million on the site and plans to pour in more than $100 million to expand the facility’s capabilities. By the end of the five-phase plan, Equinix expects TR2 to have approximately 9,847 square metres of colocation space and 2,500 cabinets.
Both TR1 and TR2 are on multiple fibre routes with diverse routes in and out of Toronto. The facilities’ proximity to the U.S. offers customers and strategic location for business continuity and disaster recovery operations, according to Equinix.
Equinix is also opening new data centres in London, New York, Singapore and Melbourne and has expanded its IBX in Rio de Janiero.
