Intelligent Data Centres Issue 69 | Page 11

N E W S
ACCESS TO QUANTUM SECURE COMMUNICATIONS MADE EASIER FOR BUSINESSES IN UK-FIRST DATA CENTRE TO DATA CENTRE CONNECTION

BT Group , Equinix and Toshiba have announced they will provide quantum-secure connectivity at two prime colocation Equinix data centres located in London ’ s Canary Wharf and Slough .

Customers using the Equinix data centres ( which can provide equipment , space and bandwidth to multiple organisations securely colocated in the same data centre ) will be able to connect to BT Group and Toshiba ’ s quantum-secured metro network and trial the transmission of data , protected using Quantum Key Distribution ( QKD ).
This UK first for dedicated quantum-secure connectivity services between data centres will provide multi-user access .
Located in the heart of London ’ s financial services district and an area densely populated by businesses , the two sites provide ideal points for a wide range of organisations to trial ‘ Quantum Keys-as-a-Service ’ and marks a significant step towards making quantum secured communications more accessible .
With global investment accelerating the development of quantum computers , there is an increased risk to current encryption techniques . Quantum Computing has the potential to be able to crack the mathematics that underpins much of the current cryptography that is used to secure networks .
Data which requires long-term security could be at risk of ‘ store today , crack later attacks ’ when sufficiently powerful quantum computers are available . QKD-based security is unique because the key-exchange is secure against any computational or mathematical advance .
The acquisition marks the company ’ s entry into the Texas market expanding its colocation capabilities across the US .
The transaction was funded with equity commitments from Manulife Investment Management ( on behalf of Manulife Infrastructure Fund II , Manulife Infrastructure Fund III and its affiliates ), Serverfarm ’ s majority shareholder and other minority shareholders . The Seller was exclusively advised by CBRE Data Center Capital Markets .
Through Serverfarm ’ s expertise in adaptive reuse , infrastructure modernisation and sustainable redevelopment , HOU1 and HOU2 will rapidly scale to address the underserved , highdemand Houston market with hyperscale data centre capacity .
The first phase of one campus is pre-leased to a large customer , with both campuses attracting intense interest from hyperscalers and other technology companies .

Serverfarm , a global data centre developer and operator , has acquired two Houston , Texas data centre campuses which are positioned to deliver near-term capacity to the market through sustainable modernisation of pre-existing buildings .

SERVERFARM ’ S ACQUISITION BRINGS SCALABLE AND SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING US MARKETS
Houston ranks as the 7th largest US metro economy , home to 7.3 million people and boasts a GDP of over US $ 630 billion . Thanks to its central location , skilled workforce , energy infrastructure and business-friendly regulations and tax environment , Houston and the broader Texas area is a leader in digital and energy transformation .
Serverfarm ’ s HOU1 data centre facility has a current capacity of 350,000 square feet with line-of-sight of 410MW of customer capacity . The HOU2 data centre campus spans across nearly half a million square feet in two buildings with secured customer capacity to scale to 100MW using available , existing grid power .
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