UK-based cloud and colo provider Interxion has signed an agreement to purchase French telco SFR’s Netcenter data center facilities in Marseille, France.

The facility (MRS 1) will provide approximately 5,700 sq m of equipped space and a minimum of 6MW of customer-available power when it is fully built out.

Phase I is scheduled to open in Q4 2014 and will be approximately 500 sq m, Phase II will be the same size and open in Q1 2015.

MRS 1 currently serves as a transit and caching node for more than 60 network providers, has the advantage of access to the aggregation point of eight undersea cables that terminate in Marseille.

The contract also includes immediate, direct access to the existing community of network and cable operators.

Contractual arrangements will also provide for transitional services between Interxion and SFR, as well as for SFR to transfer to Interxion the majority of the space in the facility that it currently occupies or sub-leases.

Interxion’s CEO David Ruberg said the investment into MRS 1 positions the company at the crossroads of the connectivity between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

“The strong network hub that is created by the aggregation of multiple undersea cable landing points connecting to terrestrial cables makes Marseille a highly attractive gateway,” Ruberg said.

“We expect to expand the existing connectivity hub in MRS 1 and to develop vibrant cloud and CDN hubs.”

The purchase is scheduled to complete in the Q3 2014.

Interxion said CAPEX associated with the purchase and construction of MRS 1 is expected to be approximately €45 million, of which approximately €20 million is associated with the purchase of the freehold land and buildings, and the construction of the first two phases.