Virgin Media Business Wholesale, the fixed wholesale connectivity arm of Virgin Media O2 Business (VMO2 Business), confirmed today (May 22) that it has launched diverse fiber routes and high bandwidth services into the Equinix flagship site, Manchester MA5 data center. 

The site, which opened in 2022, becomes the 160th data center that connects to Virgin Media Business Wholesale’s national network.

Virgin Media Business Wholesale said the routes will "enable more fast-growth businesses, especially those based in Manchester and the North, to take advantage of high-capacity infrastructure."

According to the telco, the new routes can support managed backhaul services, including 10Gbps National Ethernet, 10Gbps, and 100Gbps National High Capacity Services (NHCS).

First announced in 2021, MA5 is Equinix’s latest data center in Manchester. The facility offers 28,750 sq ft (3,600 sqm) of colocation space, expanding to 69,750 sq ft (6,490 sqm) at full build-out.

“We’re excited to add this flagship site to our already extensive portfolio of data center locations across the UK," said John Chester, wholesale fixed director at Virgin Media O2 Business.

"It sets us up to provide our wholesale partners with more efficient and cost-effective network solutions, and further increases the reach and diversity of our network across the region. As our £10m ($12.7m) upgrade program gathers pace, I’m looking forward to sharing further updates to our 10G and 100G capability, as the program thunders on.”

The company said it's also upgrading network capability at four other data centers in London; Equinix LD5 and LD8, Telehouse North, and Global Switch, which are now live.

It noted that these upgrades all offer complete diversity and provide a cost-effective way for organizations to build their own networks at scale.

The network upgrades are part of Virgin Media Business Wholesale’s ongoing multi-million-pound investment program to transform its 10Gbps and higher portfolio, which it claims is delivering faster connections through greater automation and reduced delivery times.