Equinix uses Cloud Xpress for data center interconnect

Global data center and interconnect company Equinix has selected the Cloud Xpress platform from Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN) for data center interconnect in Hong Kong.

Infinera launched the Cloud Xpress platform in 2014 with an eye toward serving the data center interconnect market (see "Infinera ships Cloud Xpress platform"). Equinix is a longstanding Infinera customer (see "Equinix taps Infinera for metro networks in North America and Asia" and "Equinix deploys Infinera DTN-X in three data centers," for example). The company sent a representative to speak at the Cloud Xpress unveiling and provided an endorsement for a recent announcement of new capabilities on the platform (see "Infinera adds 100GbE, SDN protocol and encryption support to Cloud Xpress family"). However, this is the first announced deployment of the Cloud Xpress within Equinix's footprint.

As is the case with its facilities around the world, the Hong Kong International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers in Hong Kong provide networks and businesses an interconnect location.

"Equinix is growing rapidly across the globe, and Hong Kong is no exception," said Raphael Ho, senior director, network engineering and operations at Equinix. "Our three Hong Kong-based IBX data centers already support over 340 customers and we recently announced expansions at two of these sites. Cloud Xpress is an ideal solution for us to expand network capacity between our sites, with its high density, low power consumption, and a very simple rack-and-stack operations model."

The Cloud Xpress was among the first of what has proven to be a wave of purpose-built optical transport platforms for data center interconnect applications. It competes against offerings from ADVA Optical Networking, Alcatel-Lucent, BTI Systems, Ciena, Cyan, and ECI, among others.

For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer's Guide.