Hyperscale data centre operator EdgeConneX said it is to acquire Global Data Center (GDC), an Israel-based data centre operator headquartered in Herzliya.

The transaction, of which financial details have not been disclosed, represents EdgeConneX’s first hard assets in Israel and indeed the Middle East.

The EQT Infrastructure-backed US operator will add two underground facilities in Herzliya and Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv, adding a combined 128,000 sqft of data centre space.

Randy Brouckman, CEO of EdgeConneX, said: “I am pleased to announce the expansion of the EdgeConneX global footprint to the Middle Eastern region with the acquisition of GDC.

“As always, the company’s focus is on its customers and providing them with the capacity they want, where they want it, and when they want it. In the case of Israel, GDC’s talented leadership team, strong operational track record and existing infrastructure helps us accelerate meeting these requirements by providing a ready-made solution with a premium platform that is already well established in the market.”

Global Data Center was founded in 2013 by former IBMer Moshe Lasman in cooperation and with the financial backing of the Viola Group, a leading private equity investment firm. The entrepreneur and the existing GDC team are to remain managing and running the business in Israel, the firm confirmed.

Founder and CEO Lasman said: “EdgeConneX brings over a decade of experience building out a global data centre platform that includes approximately 50 data centres in over 40 markets around the world and spans everything from hyperlocal edge facilities to hyperscale data centre campuses.

“Together, we will be able to best serve the local data centre infrastructure needs in Israel and global requirements anywhere in the world.”

Harel Beit-On, co-founder and general partner at Viola, said: “As early investors with significant share in Global Data Center, we have been accompanying the development in the data centre landscape for the past seven years and believe that the entrance of EdgeConneX to the Israeli market will further drive its growth.”

EdgeConneX is not alone in expanding in Israel, with several other companies growing their operations in the country, often deemed as the Silicon Valley of the Middle East.

For example, just last week, build-to-suit acquisition data centre platform Global Technical Realty (GTR) launched a 10.5MW data centre project in Petah Tikva.

Also from Israel, came one of the largest data centre acquisitions of July, when Israeli real estate developer Azrieli Group (TASE: AZRG) acquired privately-held Norwegian data centre operator Green Mountain Data Centre AS for cash consideration of NIS 2.8 billion (US$850 million).