Equinix LD7 – Slough

Colo-X analysis

Equinix LD7 is the fourth Equinix data centre to be built on the Slough Trading Estate and opened in 2019, adding a further 71,000 sq ft – or around 2,650 cabinet equivalents to the Equinix Slough Data Centre Campus and offers the usual standards you’d expect from one of the leading global colocation operators.

All Equinix data centre buildings on the Slough Trading Estate can be inter-connected by cross-connects, thus this is effectively one data centre campus, now including all five Equinix data centres, with the fifth, LD10, an acqusition being operated as part of the Exascale brand. Only the most ultra-latency sensitive clients need to be concerned which of the buildings they are.

LD4 has a recognised financial trading ecosystem, a fast growing LINX node with over 100 ports now in use (14% share of the London market) and a growing carrier list.

Equinix minimum density requirements can make costs per rack quite high, despite costs per kW often being quite reasonable when compared with the wider UK market, but other costs especitally for cross-connects can also add up. Power density per rack is from the Equinix minimum of 6kVA. Part racks are available though, which helps provide lower cost entry into the Equinix Slough Campus, as quarter or half racks, from Equinix themselves or other Colo-X partners.

Equinix LD7 facility description

Like the other Equinix Slough data centres built before it, LD7 is a purpose-built data centre building, delivered across two floors each as a distinct phase with the larger first phase of 1750 cabinets supplemented by a second of a further 900 cabinet equivalents each and third phase also due. Use of adiabiatic cooling is aimed at keeping the facility power efficiency at the best operational levels.

Colocation options include full racks starting at 6kVA each but can offer higher power densities. Dedicated part racks of half or quarter racks available, as is per U colocation, through service providers.

Equinix now run 9 colocation data centres in London (LD3, 4, 4.2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) and the “Exascale” site of LD10.  With total capacity of some 140MW across these sites this makes Equinix the number two data centre operator in the UK, according to the Colo-X Data Centre Data Base (March 2023).

Equinix also run four data centres in Manchester with a combined 12.5MW.

Equinix Slough Trading Estate Campus LD4/5/6/7 and 10

On the Slough Trading Estate all six Equinix data centres offer a “campus cross-connect” model, meaning clients can run cross-connects between any of the Equinix sites, regardless of which they are in.

LD4 and its adjacent extension, 4.2, are established ecosystems for ultra-low latency trading, especially for equities and FX, but there is a substantial price premium to be in these two sites as a result.

LD5, 6 and 7 offer “regular” Equinix pricing but with minimum power densities per rack, e.g. 6kW per rack in LD7 (Dec 2023). For smaller deployments seeking less power and space, quarter and half racks offer lower total costs in wide cabinets, 800mm, along with all the other benefits of participating in the Equinix Slough campus.

Always worth contacting Colo-X how best to deploy into the Equinix Slough campus, as well as discuss pricing and arrange formal quotes via the Colo-X account manager.

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