Equinix and Omantel open 23,600-sqf data centre in Oman
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Equinix and Omantel open 23,600-sqf data centre in Oman

Oman map NEW.jpeg

Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX) and global communications provider Oman Telecommunications Company) has announced the opening of their new IBX data centre in Barka, near Muscat—the capital of Oman.

The facility is the first carrier-neutral hub in Oman where carriers, content providers and cloud providers can colocate critical IT infrastructure.

Located between Asia, Africa and Europe, the new facility in Oman is set to serve as a regional interconnection hub providing ultra-low latency connection points between key global business markets, according to the company.

The data centre utilises direct connectivity to strategic cable landing stations (CLS) and subsea cable systems that terminate directly inside the facility.

"We are seeing an accelerated demand for digital transformation in MENA. Across different sectors, organisations are reassessing their cloud adoption strategies and cloud readiness,” said Eugene Bergen Henegouwen, President, EMEA, Equinix.

“In the digital age, companies need to reach all the right places and partners to seize opportunity, and they need to do it out at the edge.

“Our partnership with Omantel greatly supports our ability to meet this need, particularly as our customers can now leverage Omantel's significant subsea cable infrastructure.

“This type of colocation and interconnection services platform creates a magnetic effect that draws in more users that can leverage a global subsea cable fabric connecting cities, countries and continents together.

“Along with this, our investment in the Middle East market—including the new data centre in Oman—reflects our commitment to our customers as they continue their digital transformation journeys."

Equinix and Omantel announced in July 2018 that the companies had entered into a joint venture to deliver data centre and interconnection services to customers in the Middle East through the development of the new network-dense data centre.

"Today, data centre infrastructure sits at the heart of global ICT and enables all of us to enjoy the cloud-based apps and services we use every day,” said Talal Al Mamari, CEO, Omantel.

“The new IBX in Oman represents a significant step forward for Oman and the Middle Eastern ICT markets. We are delighted that the facility is now open and, together with Equinix, we hope to enable a new era of telecommunications both regionally and globally.

“Coupled with the majority of the GCC's international submarine cables landing in Oman, all accessible from the Equinix data centre, we believe this partnership will further enhance Oman's competitiveness in the global digital economy."

The resulting site, MC1, is operated by Equinix and includes 23,600+ square feet of colocation space and 725 cabinets.

The site has the capacity to grow to 2,150+ cabinets with future IBX builds, and it is Equinix's first data centre in Oman and its fourth in the MENA region.

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