Equinix LD8 / Telecity 8&9 Harbour Exchange (HEX)

Colo-X analysis

Telecity 8&9 Harbour Exchange (HEX) was by far the larger of the early Telecity London sites and is located next door to the original Redbus data centre at 6&7 Harbour Exchange. HEX offers just under 70, 000 sq ft across four floors. As in 6&7, slab height per floor is limited but 47U cabinets are usable and power densities reflect the age of the facility, with the more recent expansion by Telecity to modern standards taking place next door in 6&7.

The real benefit of the HEX campus, though, is connectivity choice – the combined site (of the former Redbus and Telecity data centres) is the second best connectivity node in London after Telehouse. As such, HEX/LD8 is often used by carriers and ISPs as either a diverse network node to Telehouse or for the rare situations where a carrier in HEX is not present in Telehouse.  Since being acquired by Equinix in late 2015, HEX is now known as LD8.

Equinix LD8 / Telecity 8&9 Harbour Exchange facility description

This is the largest Telecity site in the Docklands, and was originally opened in 2000. It is spread across the lower four floors in a converted 10-storey office building. The former Redbus facility known as Redbus Harbour Exchange (HEX) is located right next door in units 6&7. The Telecity site was originally sold in fairly large chunks to carriers such as Telia, in line with Telecity’s strategy of targeting the carrier sector.

In 2013, when Telecity expanded the site, cross-connects between 6&7 and 8&9 became possible and thus it no longer mattered which side of HEX customers were located on. Since Equinix acquired Telecity in late 2015, the site is now renamed Equinix LD8 and represents Equinix’s first ownership of an important London Docklands connectivity ecosystem.

The benefits of the site’s longevity will be reflected in its carrier choice, but on the other hand power per cabinet or square metre will be correspondingly limited compared with modern standards.  Partial cabinets, as dedicated quarter or half racks can also be sourced and offer a cost-effective alternative to full racks yet still offering full access to this important colocation ecosystem.

Technical stats