Equinix expands access to cloud services to new EMEA markets through Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – 10 December, 2019 – Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the global interconnection and data center company, today announced the availability of private connectivity to Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute cloud services at Equinix International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data centers in multiple EMEA markets. The expansion of the service to Frankfurt, Geneva, Milan, Stockholm and Zurich, builds on Equinix’s integration with Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute – extending its reach to 26 metros globally, including nine in the EMEA market.

Improving access to cloud services is crucial in supporting the growing enterprise cloud adoption market. A recent independent survey commissioned by Equinix, found cloud is the number one driver of Channel engagement, with almost half (48%) of the 836 EMEA IT decision-makers surveyed, using the Channel to access cloud-based services.

Direct access to a cloud onramp via an edge node is the most effective means to ensuring consistent and optimal performance, reliability and cost-efficiency. From the first quarter of 2020, customers in the five additional European metros can access Azure ExpressRoute through Equinix directly at all available speeds, consistent with the service currently offered for Azure ExpressRoute in existing markets globally.

Highlights/Key Facts

• Equinix is a leading global exchange provider of Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute. The combined service is available via either local or remote connections in 26 markets worldwide (pending Milan and Zurich deployments). Current metros include Amsterdam, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Miami, Milan, New York, Osaka, Paris, São Paulo, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington D.C and Zurich.

• Establishing private access via Equinix enables Microsoft to deliver the unique capabilities of hybrid cloud, including application services, production and identity management, data and backup and recovery services, and infrastructure services such as virtual networks and traffic management. Customers of this service benefit from a combination of more predictable network performance, flexibility and reliability.
• This extended service enables enterprises to successfully implement private connectivity capabilities to build extensible hybrid-cloud strategies. These same strategies do not perform well over the internet or typical WAN networks.

• Direct and private connectivity to strategic cloud service providers like Microsoft is essential as digital transformation fuels higher demand for localized digital services at the edge. According to the third volume of the Global Interconnection Index – an annual market study published by Equinix – interconnecting to multiple providers across multiple edge locations is the most prominent use case for interconnection bandwidth and is expected to grow 4x by 2022.

Quotes

• Bob Breynaert, Global Managing Director, Strategic Alliances, Equinix: 
  “In today’s global digital economy, interconnecting with digital services and customers at the edge – in multiple and often distant locations – is critical. By expanding our collaboration with Microsoft to bring Azure ExpressRoute to Equinix IBX data centers in 26 metros globally, we’re ensuring Microsoft can accelerate local and global Azure solutions, reducing their average deployment implementation from 8-9 months to 6-8 weeks.”

• Ross Ortega, Partner PM Manager, Microsoft Azure Networking at Microsoft:
  “Engagement with Equinix accelerates Azure consumption with our enterprise customers – allowing for consistent and optimized Azure migrations. We are pleased to expand Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute connections throughout Europe. This allows more businesses in these growing markets to access these services through the Equinix network of data centers and global interconnection platform.”

About the Global Interconnection Index (GXI)
The Global Interconnection Index, published annually by Equinix, delivers insights that drive digital business advantage by tracking, measuring and forecasting growth in interconnection bandwidth—the total capacity provisioned to privately and directly exchange traffic with a diverse set of counterparties and providers at distributed IT exchange points. The Global Interconnection Index is the industry’s only market study that projects how interconnection bandwidth growth will unfold through 2022. The report serves as a market baseline that analyzes the deployment profile of thousands of ecosystem participants using carrier-neutral colocation data center providers globally. This data was combined with local and regional market data (including macroeconomic trends, market demographics and industry concentrations) to form a weighted demand multiplier to assist in predicting growth and assess impact on digital business transformation. A detailed methodology description is included in the Global Interconnection Index.

About the independent Channel study
The independent study on Channel surveyed 836 IT decision-makers from enterprises across 8 EMEA countries (UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, Finland, Turkey and the UAE). Respondents were selected for participation from Dynata’s online panel. The survey was conducted online between 01 and 16 August 2019.

Additional resources

• Global Interconnection Index Volume 3 [market study]
• Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute FAQ [website]
• More about Equinix and Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute [website]

About Equinix
Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX) connects the world’s leading businesses to their customers, employees and partners inside the most-interconnected data centers. In 52 markets worldwide, Equinix is where companies come together to realize new opportunities and accelerate their business, IT and cloud strategies. http://www.equinix.com/

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the challenges of acquiring, operating and constructing IBX data centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix services; unanticipated costs or difficulties relating to the integration of companies we have acquired or will acquire into Equinix; a failure to receive significant revenue from customers in recently built out or acquired data centers; failure to complete any financing arrangements contemplated from time to time; competition from existing and new competitors; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds to repay new or outstanding indebtedness; the loss or decline in business from our key customers; and other risks described from time to time in Equinix filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see recent Equinix quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available upon request from Equinix. Equinix does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

Equinix Media Contact (EMEA)
Liam Rose
+44 7881 312 553
liam.rose@eu.equinix.com