Equinix has opened its first International Business Exchange (IBX) data center in South Africa, in the city of Johannesburg.
First announced in December 2022, the new facility officially opened this week.
Located in the Germiston area of the city and known as JN1, the site provides more than 20,000 sq ft (1,900 sqm) of colocation space in its initial phase, with plans for expansion to more than 100,000 sq ft (9,515 sqm) at full build-out.
Able to support liquid cooling, JN1 has 700 cabinets in its initial phase, with plans for 3,475 cabinets when fully built out. The company has previously said the site would initially support 4MW, expandable to 20MW across three development phases.
Sandile Dube, managing director for South Africa at Equinix said: “Our brand new JN1 data center in Johannesburg serves as a powerful platform for people and businesses to connect, innovate, and flourish not only in South Africa but also beyond.
"The new site presents a truly unique opportunity for South Africans as it places us firmly on the map and will be a key interconnection hub on the continent to some of the fastest growing countries and businesses in the world. It is a proud day for me to be leading this expansion into South Africa and I believe that this is a crucial milestone for the country in its digital and connectivity journey for thousands of residents.”
The company has previously said it would invest $160 million in the project, located at 308 Brollo Road, Tunney, in the east of the city.
Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Intelys Technology Group, Seacom, and WorkOnline Communications, as well as the INX-ZA's Johannesburg Internet Exchange (JINX) are all listed as present in the new facility.
Equinix made its first move into the African continent in December 2021 after acquiring MainOne. Through its MDXi unit, MainOne operates four facilities in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire totaling 64,000 sq ft (5,950 sqm).
Other data center operators present around Johannesburg include Digital Parks Africa, OADC, Digital Realty's Teraco, Vantage, NTT, and Africa Data Centers.
