Equinix LD3 – Park Royal

Colo-X analysis

The Equinix LD3 Park Royal data centre was originally launched in the dotcom era by IPCenta. Post-crash, the local management team acquired the asset and ran it as Vital International, working with the initial 5,000 sq ft of built-out capacity. In December 2005, Vital sold the entire building to IXEurope, who in turn were acquired by Equinix in 2007. The site has since been known as Equinix LD3.

Following acquisition by IXEurope/Equinix, the balance of site sold very quickly into a London market that was desperately short of capacity. The initial focus here was DR for one or two trading exchanges based in Equinix LD4. Since then, this appeal has reduced and now the site is not one that often appears on the radar – especially with the more impressive Equninix LD10 (formerly Telecity Powergate) around the corner.

This is a good quality site backed by a large global operator, so standards will be good and network choice reasonable given the site’s longevity. There are probably more smaller colocation customers here than in the larger LD10.

Equinix LD3 facility description

Located in Park Royal, north-west London, the data centre was originally constructed by IPCenta, the web hosting arm of French company Completel. When Completel retreated from the UK at the end of the dotcom boom, the local management stepped in to take on the lease of the part completed facility which had some 5,000 sq ft of built-out space.

Vital continued in this mode for several years until they sold the entire site onto IX Europe (now Equinix) in December 2005. They remain probably the largest single tenant, with a self-contained suite, entrance and office/NOC on site. Vital are now known as Luminet and continue to offer managed services out of their suite (and well suited for smaller part-rack customers).

After acquisition by IXEurope/Equinix, the balance of 25,000 sq ft fallow space was fitted out to what were then current standards, with an average power density of 3kW per cabinet.

With acquisition by Equinix, the site has had several upgrades to the M&E services. These include more power and more cooling equipment in each room. 32Amp supplies are now available if required.

The building itself is a typical light-industrial warehouse unit. Coronation Road features numerous similar units, including an old Exodus/Cable and Wireless hosting facility a few doors away.

Technical stats