Digital infrastructure operator Equinix (NASDAQ: EQIX) has brought online its 18^th Australian data centre in Perth.

The PE3 facility, located next to the existing PE2 building, represents an investment of US$54 million and hosts 700 cabinets which occupy an area of nearly 38,600 square feet in the first phase of development.

At full build, planned capacity will a total of 1,650 cabinets deployed and 114,000 square feet of colocation space utilised for service provision.

Guy Danskine, managing director for Equinix Australia, said: “The West Australian market has experienced substantial growth driven by the acceleration of digital transformation across industries. Digital leaders are increasingly coming to Equinix to access all the necessary essential infrastructure required to create a digital advantage.

“With continued investment in subsea cables, Perth is becoming a key gateway for digital expansion and collaboration into Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, enabling our customers and partners to expand into new regions, countries and metros around the world.”

The Equinix campus in Perth provides direct access to multiple subsea cables, including the Australian Singapore Cable (ASC) and Indigo Cable systems.

In addition, the Oman Australia Cable (OAC) connecting Perth to Muscat through Platform Equinix will be the first express submarine network to link Australia and the European, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region when complete in the second quarter of 2022.

Inside Equinix’s PE3 Perth data centre. Source: Equinix

Western Australia Government Department of Jobs Tourism, Science, and Innovation (JTSI) director-general Rebecca Brown, said: “JTSI’s Invest and Trade WA team welcomes Equinix’s investment in the State and the positioning of Perth’s growing importance as a digital gateway to global markets. Invest and Trade WA looks forward to continuing to work with Equinix as the State develops a thriving local technology industry.”

Equinix now has a national footprint of 18 IBX data centres across Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, and Brisbane.

In Asia-Pacific, Equinix operates 51 IBX data centres across 13 metros in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and Singapore.

Globally, Platform Equinix comprises more than 235 data centres across 65 metros and 27 countries.

Reach João Marques Lima at joao.lima@thetechcapital.com