Microsoft has announced the launch of its first data center regions in the Middle East. Both Azure and Office 365 are now generally available from the tech giants first cloud data center regions in the Middle East, located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, offering the next generation of intelligent business applications and tools, are anticipated to be available from the cloud regions in UAE by the end of 2019.The opening of the new cloud regions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai marks the first time Microsoft will deliver cloud services directly from datacenter locations in UAE and expands upon Microsofts existing investments in the Gulf and the wider Middle East region, the company wrote in the blog post. By delivering the complete Microsoft cloud Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics 365 from data centers in a given geography, we offer scalable, highly available, and resilient cloud services for organizations while helping them meet their data residency, security, and compliance needs.Microsoft first announced plans for Middle East data centers last March. Competitors Google and AWS have also announced their plans about opening a cloud region in the Middle East. Microsoft beat out the two cloud giants to become the first of the big three to open data centers in the Middle East.It made sense for us to base our first Middle East data centers in the UAE to capitalize on the position the country has achieved. Weve had a lot of demand from customers, whether its government or the commercial sector, for data centers that are close to them, Sayed Hashish, general manager for Microsoft Gulf, told Gulf News.According to Microsoft, local data center infrastructure stimulates economic development for both customers and partners alike. The company believes that the cloud services delivered from the UAE to have a positive impact on job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth across the region. Microsoft has recently opened its first data centers in Africa. The company is also launching data centers in Switzerland, France, and Germany.

Equinix Expands Collaboration with IBM CloudEquinix, Inc., the global interconnection and data center company, has expanded its collaboration with IBM Cloud. The new move is aimed at bringing private and scalable connectivity to global enterprises at the digital edge via Equinix Cloud Exchange Fabric (ECX Fabric). ECX Fabric is an on-demand, SDN-enabled interconnection service that allows any business to connect between its own distributed infrastructure and any other companys distributed infrastructure, including the worlds largest network service and cloud providers, on Platform Equinix.Our extended collaboration to offer direct and private connectivity to the IBM Cloud Direct Link service via ECX Fabric is a key enabler to enterprise digital transformation efforts. With the global reach of the Equinix interconnection platform, combined with IBM Cloud, we can help enterprises deploy hybrid cloud solutions and scale their digital businesses at the edge with robust security, said Royce Thomas, SVP, Strategic Alliances and Global Account Management, Equinix.The latest collaboration enhances the long-standing relationship between Equinix and IBM. IBM Cloud Direct Link Exchange is deployed in more Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers worldwide than any other Direct Link Exchange provider.According to Equinix, many companies are adopting a hybrid cloud strategy with a combination of public, private and on-premises capabilities. This helps them address major enterprise concerns such as security issues, data protection and protocols, availability, and cloud management. To make hybrid cloud deployments possible, Equinix and IBM are leveraging the global ECX Fabric to provide private connectivity to IBM Cloud, including Direct Link Exchange, Direct Link Dedicated and Direct Link Dedicated Hosting.With the ability to directly connect to business-critical applications from multiple points of presence within Equinix data centers located in key global metros, our customers can anticipate to more effectively integrate hybrid cloud strategies designed for improved security, reliability and performance, said Gabriel Montanti, Global Offering Executive, IBM Cloud.Equinix has also joined the IBM Cloud Direct Link Service Provider Program. It provides at least one Direct Link point of presence in all strategic markets of IBM. According to the company, these moves will help customers in 16 metros around the world can now create a secure, private cloud onramp to connect to IBM Cloud. They can utilize ECX Fabric to implement low-latency, hybrid cloud solutions that connect directly to IBM Cloud as they bypass the public internet.

Facility Uses Innovative WindChill Modular Enclosure to Dramatically Lower Costs for AI, Financial, Healthcare, High-Performance Computing Other Compute NeedsAtlanta, GA June 21, 2019 GIGA Data Centers, LLC (GIGA), a new breed of data center provider creating affordable, hyper-scale power facilities with unprecedented energy efficiency, today announced the company officially opened its CLT-1 Data Center in Mooresville, NC with a grand opening event that includes facility tours, a ribbon cutting ceremony and remarks from local officials. The new facility leverages a highly energy-efficient modular design first used in turnkey installations provided to enterprise companies and agencies including the U.S. Department of Energy. The data center is connected to the High-Reliability transmission lines fed by two Duke Energy power generation plants supplying green and renewable electricity. In addition, the Mooresville facility represents the latest in data center innovation to cost-effectively support the higher power requirements needed for high-performance computing in AI, financial services, healthcare and many other industry segments where this elite level of compute service has previously been out of reach for the non-enterprise company.At the event, GIGA President CEO Jake Ring said: With our new facility open for business, small to mid-sized companies will finally have access to high-performance compute capabilities at affordable prices. Mr. Ring attributes the affordable pricing to GIGAs WindChill system which provides hot/cold aisle isolation and adiabatic cooling to dramatically lower data center operating costs yet offers flexible rack-power densities from 5 kilowatts up to 50 kilowatts per rack cabinet, all at 4.1₵ per kWhr.CLT-1 is a 165,800 square foot data center with 120,000 square feet occupying the main data hall. The Tier-3 compliant facility is a complete departure from traditional raised-floor construction and supports power and cooling from 5kW to 50kW per 52U rack, at a guaranteed Power Use Efficiency (PUE) rating of 1.15. In addition, customers benefit from an exemption of all sales and use tax until 2029, including on electricity. Also, property tax is rebated up to 80 percent until 2026.GIGAs new facility is an efficiency milestone for the colocation industry that places world-class hosting and carrier-neutral services in an ideal location, to offer a lower-priced option over more costly data center fees charged in other markets, Ring added.About GIGA Data CentersHeadquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, GIGA Data Centers (GIGA), takes a modern approach to building data centers with innovative, modular technology that is proven to be more efficient than the decades-old tradition of constructing facilities with raised floors as well as over-provisioned cooling and power systems. GIGA is motivated by the belief that all companies seeking data center and colocation offerings should have access to greater efficiency and flexibility at a reasonable price. The result is a guaranteed PUE of 1.15, up to 50kW per rack-cabinet, and an immensely scalable design delivered at very competitive rates.# # #For more information, contact:Betsey RogersPublic RelationsBridgeView Marketing603-821-0809