5Nines to build data centre overlooking Atlantic Link landing site in Northern Ireland

14 March 2017 |

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council in Northern Ireland have announced Atlantic Link, the first carrier-neutral enterprise zone and data centre in the area.

Atlantic Link will be built close to the University of Ulster in Coleraine and is the first carrier-neutral enterprise zone and data centre in Northern Ireland. Atlantic Link will be built at a site close to the University of Ulster.

Enterprise zones offer hi-tech businesses tax incentives and simplified planning procedures. For this part of Northern Ireland Atlantic Link presents a significant economic opportunity. It will be built adjacent to where the Project Kelvin transatlantic fibre, which connects the US and UK, comes ashore.

This will be a challenging opportunity for the local council to capitalise on – given that the area is more used to developing the local specialities of tourism and agriculture.

The investor and anchor tenant is 5Nines, a global data centre builder and operator which is preparing to start work on the sight shortly.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Alderman Maura Hickey said: “This is the crucial next step for what we call the ‘Digital Causeway’, attracting new industries and jobs to the region and giving Causeway Coast and Glens a competitive edge which no other site in Northern Ireland can currently offer.   I am delighted that the determination and support of Councillors has made this ambition a reality and we look forward to the growth it will bring to the local economy.” Council will now embark on the process to develop, market and promote Atlantic Link in establishing a Digital and Creative Causeway.

Coleraine Councillor Trevor Clarke said: “The scheme is worth well in excess of £20m and will create employment at both construction and operational stages. More importantly, it means the North Coast can at last take advantage of Kelvin, the ultra-secure high-speed trans-Atlantic data cable linking Coleraine and Northern Ireland to New York and mainland Europe.”