HYPER-CONVERGED INFRASTRUCTURE, APPLICATION STORAGE
prnewswire | March 24, 2023
EdgeConneX®, the pioneer in global Hyperlocal to Hyperscale Data Center Solutions, announces the successful execution of $3.3 billion in innovative sustainability-linked financing, which enables the development of critical digital infrastructure to support customers' global data center requirements. The significant scale of these transactions is also recognized by IJGlobal, a leading market intelligence firm for the energy and infrastructure finance industry, with the Digital Infrastructure Deal of the Year Award 2022 in the data center category.
In October 2022, EdgeConneX, the EQT-owned data center developer, reached financial close of a €2.4 billon sustainability-linked (re)financing EdgeConneX pan-EMEA data center portfolio of operational facilities across seven jurisdictions and provided CapEx facilities to support future developments. This financing is arranged across three tranches – a term loan, a CapEx facility, and a revolving credit facility, providing an optional line of credit if needed. Beyond consolidating EdgeConneX pan-EMEA portfolio, this deal allows it to transition from stand-alone project financing to a structured corporate debt package – thereby unlocking more flexibility and funding capacity to support anticipated growth across the region. In addition, this deal represents Europe's first data center platform financing and is rated as a pathfinder sustainability-linked portfolio financing.
Separately, in June 2022, funds managed by Ares Management's Infrastructure Debt strategy, committed a delayed draw sustainability-linked global debt facility to EdgeConneX. The debt facility commits up to $1 billion and can be used to fund the development and construction of EdgeConneX growing global development pipeline. In addition, the innovative funding regime in Euros and US dollars via a structured corporate debt package unlocks more flexibility and funding capacity to support EdgeConneX anticipated global growth.
Both facilities include sustainability-linked margin adjustments, whereby the interest rate payable is directly correlated to EdgeConneX achieving specific pre-determined sustainability targets. These targets align with EdgeConneX holistic ESG sustainability strategy, which includes a goal of becoming a carbon-, waste- and water-neutral data center provider by 2030 and developing and operating a data center platform powered by 100% renewable energy.
"We are honored by the IJGlobal Award distinction for our innovative financing structures that can be replicated globally," comments Joe Harar, Chief Financial Officer for EdgeConneX. "Sustainability is a necessity, and EdgeConneX has adopted sustainability principles across all aspects of our business. These financings leverage EdgeConneX Green Finance Framework and enable us to execute growth plans by reinforcing our commitment to delivering energy-efficient and innovative sustainable solutions for our customers anywhere in the world."
The greenfield element of these transactions wins EdgeConneX an IJGlobal award in this category in conjunction with the refinancings, which played a significant part in the deal and its reason for winning an award. The IJGlobal Awards took place in London on March 9, 2023, celebrating the best-in-class transactions and organizations across the international infrastructure and energy sectors.
EdgeConneX owns and operates 60+ data centers across 50 unique markets throughout 30 countries. The company's portfolio includes 200+ far edge and EdgePop deployments and 500+MW of capacity deployed and/or in development worldwide. Providing excellence and expertise across all deployment phases, EdgeConneX also specializes in build-to-suit data center facilities for Hyperscalers serving as the backbone of their cloud computing products for consumers globally.
About EdgeConneX
EdgeConneX, backed by EQT Infrastructure, part of the global investment organization EQT, EdgeConneX provides a full range of sustainable data center solutions worldwide. We work closely with our customers to offer choices in location, scale, and type of facility, from Hyperlocal to Hyperscale. EdgeConneX is a global leader in anytime, anywhere, and any scale data center services for a diverse portfolio of industries, including Content, Cloud, Networks, Gaming, Automotive, SaaS, IoT, HPC, Security, and more. With a mission predicated on taking care of our customers, our people, and our planet, EdgeConneX strives to Empower Your Edge.
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HYPER-CONVERGED INFRASTRUCTURE
Bluebird Network | February 08, 2023
On February 07. 2023, a communications infrastructure provider and operator of two data centers, Bluebird Network, highlights its successful partnership with the University of Central Missouri. Bluebird Network will provide primary internet services for the campus and the University’s remote sites.
The University of Central Missouri is powered by Bluebird Network’s data centers and digital infrastructure, which will enable bulk storage of the University data, maintain campus connectivity, and provide internet access between all remote sites.
With its forward-thinking approach, Bluebird is known for its excellent customer service and personal touch. The communications infrastructure provider delivers tools and solutions to educational systems at all levels. In addition to its high connectivity and required bandwidth for best education practices in the digital world, Bluebird is empowering education and is identified as the second largest ISP to public schools in the State of Missouri.
About Bluebird Network
Bluebird Network is based in Columbia, Missouri and serves the Midwest with a carrier-class fiber network. Since its year of foundation in 1999, the company has offered fiber networks to businesses, hospitals, schools, and other data-driven organizations, including high-capacity transport, high internet speed and data center solutions. Bluebird performs more than 11,000 fiber route miles of high-speed broadband and fiber-optic connections with more than 82,000 on-net and near-net buildings and 160 Points of Presence (PoP) sites across the Midwest. This includes the major cities of Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield (MO and IL), Tulsa, Peoria, Rockford, Bloomington, Normal, and the Quad Cities
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HYPER-CONVERGED INFRASTRUCTURE, APPLICATION STORAGE
Teledyne LeCroy | February 13, 2023
The global leader in protocol test and measurement solutions, Teledyne LeCroy, announced compliance testing support for the second version of the OCP Datacenter NVMe SSD Specification (v2.0) inside the OakGate SSD test platform and from Austin Labs' testing services. OCP v2.0 expands upon OCP v1.0a by introducing new and improved validation testing criteria.
In addition, LeCroy's new OCP v2.0 compliance software package offers unmatched capability, speed, and usability for evaluating enterprise-class storage devices.
OCP v2.0 was created to enhance workload throughput and decrease latency in hyper-scale applications. Validating SSD compliance and functioning guarantees the maximum performance achievable. Using LeCroy's OCP v2.0 Cloud SSD Software Suite to test for compliance simplifies validation.
Hardware Systems Engineer at Meta, Ross Stenfort, said, "The OCP Datacenter NVMe SSD 2.0 Specification is a collaboration of hyperscaler's and OEMs to enable SSDs with improved time to market, quality and increased features in the industry."He added, "Teledyne LeCroy supporting this specification will enable suppliers to validate against the updated industry specification."
(Source – PR Newswire)
Austin Labs, the initial third-party test and validation facility for storage devices, provides tailored OCP (v1.0a and v2.0) Cloud SSD testing services to enable clients to bring thoroughly tested products to market on time and within budget. In addition, Austin Labs services from Teledyne LeCroy are intended for highly rapid corporate product testing, interoperability, and validation.
About Teledyne LeCroy
Teledyne LeCroy is a prominent maker of innovative oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and other test equipment that swiftly and thoroughly check performance, confirm compliance, and troubleshoot complicated electrical systems. Since its establishment in 1964, the company has prioritized incorporating potent tools into creative solutions that accelerate "Time-to-Insight." As a result, time-to-market for a broad range of applications and end markets is drastically improved by a quicker time-to-insight, allowing users to quickly detect and rectify flaws in complex electronic systems. LeCroy, with headquarters in Chestnut Ridge, New York, has sales, service, and research & development subsidiaries throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. The semiconductor, consumer electronics, computer, military/aerospace, automotive/industrial, and telecommunications sectors use LeCroy's products.
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