Equinix LD4 – Slough

Colo-X analysis

Since opening in 2007, Equinix’s LD4 facility has become an established financial ‘data centre ecosystem’. It is now one of three key financial trading venues in London. In particular, LD4 is home to the BATS Chi-X platform, Europe’s largest equities trading exchange, formed from the 2011 merger of BATS Europe and Chi-X Europe. FX trading is also prominent through venues such as LMAX, a recognised multilateral trading facility (MTF) for spot FX, which moved into LD4 in the fourth quarter of 2012.

All participants in these markets want to colocate in LD4 to ensure they have ultra-low latency to the various exchanges now housed in LD4. Colocation solutions range from part racks, even 1U, quarter racks up to full cabinets or caged areas. These are available in either LD4 or LD5 located 100 metres away. Dedicated server options are also available.

Equinix treat LD4, LD5 and LD6 as the same campus. As such, fibre cross-connects are available between the three buildings, which sit almost opposite each other on Buckingham Avenue.

From a data centre perspective, the site is well built to a good standard and various power models are offered from Equinix. Cross-connect charges can seem steep compared to other London-based colocation facilities. However, perhaps this is a good filter to ensure that the facility only appeals to those users who really value the ecosystem here. For those that don’t, there are many cheaper options both in terms of colocation and cross-connect charges. These include several listed on Colo-X just a few hundred metres away on the Slough Trading Estate. Contact us to discuss the Slough data centre options further, or for some quick guidance on pricing.

Part rack solutions also available include per U, and dedicated quarter and half racks.

Equinix LD4 Slough facility description

Equinix LD4 was built in 2007 when still part of IXEurope. It was the first of the new wave of data centres to open around London in the booming data-centre market of that year. The site was released in two phases, the first 50,000 sq ft opening in December 2007 and the second phase of similar size in 2008. Just prior to the open of LD4, IXEurope was acquired by Equinix in June 2007. The site therefore became known as LD4, i.e. the fourth Equinix site in London (assuming of course you count Slough as London!).

Equinix has achieved notable success in housing Chi-X here, a multilateral trading facility (MTF) and as such a competitor to the London Stock Exchange. In 2011 Chi-X acquired competitor BATS and the renamed entity, now known as BATS Chi-X Europe, claims to be Europe’s leading equities exchange. As a result, there has been strong interest in LD4 – both from the financial services sector who are keen to reduce latency times, and the specialist network operators offering the quickest routes from the City and other overseas financial markets. So-called ‘ultra-low-latency’ routes run from LD4 either eastwards back to the City or westwards over the Atlantic. LD4 also became a LINX (London Internet Exchange) node in LINX’s major 2008 expansion away from its Docklands hub, with some 122 ports in use, or about 8% of all of LINX’s port count.

Known carriers include Geo, Abovenet, Hibernia, Level3, Apollo, and the C&W North Atlantic submarine system. Many offer ultra-low-latency routes to both North America and back towards Central London.

Technical stats