The new 2,300 gross square metre IBX data centre, called ZH4, has been built to meet the rising demand for premium colocation and interconnection data centre services in the region, particularly from global and local network service providers and financial services firms. The $13.5m investment in the ZH4 IBX data centre is part of Equinix's $2.0 billion expansion programme to grow data centre operations globally between 2007 and 2010.

The addition of Equinix's fourth IBX data centre in Zurich provides extra capacity for approximately 500 cabinet equivalents, increasing the company's overall data centre space in this strategic market to a total of 4,760 square metres.

Located in central Zurich on the same campus as Equinix's ZH1 and ZH2 IBX data centres and just 1.5 km from the nearby ZH3 IBX data centre, the new ZH4 IBX data centre builds on the rich network density at Equinix's existing facilities, providing customers with a wide range of connectivity options and immediate access to more than 70 networks. Carriers operating within the Zurich campus include Belgacom ICS (International Carrier Services), Cablecom, Cogent Communications, Gas&Com, Global Crossing, Level 3 Communications, Sunrise, and VTLWaveNet, part of the Viatel Group.

The ZH4 IBX data centre also offers a variety of other premium data centre services including colocation, interconnection and peering, direct cross-connects between networks, and access to the Equinix Exchange central switching fabric. To ensure resilient dual-site solutions, all four of Equinix IBX data centres in Zurich are connected via redundant networks.

"At a time when demand for data centre space in Switzerland is at an all time high, we are delighted to offer our customers and prospects a new IBX data centre which provides increased capacity, security and resilience to meet the critical needs of their operations," said Frits van der Graaff, general manager for Equinix in Switzerland. "Based in central Zurich, the ZH4 IBX data centre will be able to support the established telecommunications and financial industries, as well as attract customers from other growth sectors."

The ZH4 IBX data centre provides customers with a highly resilient yet energy efficient data centre infrastructure, providing industry leading uptime with a standard provision of two N+1 Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) to each cabinet. Alongside Equinix's three other Zurich based IBX data centres, ZH4 operates entirely on ecologically produced energy generated from solar and hydro power, as certified by Naturemade Star, the Swiss label for green power production and green electricity products.

"Our investment within Switzerland marks our ongoing commitment to expanding operations not only within Europe, but globally," said Eric Schwartz, president, Equinix Europe. "Our global reach means that customers looking to expand their operations can confidently grow with us knowing that we can support their business needs now and in the future."