EdgeConneX to take stake in Chayora for China data center presence
Data center services provider EdgeConneX says it will make a strategic investment in Chayora, which owns a hyperscale data center in Beijing, China, and has another under construction in Shanghai (see "Chayora’s TJ1 Beijing data center now operational" and "Chayora opens Shanghai hyperscale data center campus"). The company did not reveal the size of the investment.
The financial arrangement will give EdgeConneX a presence in Beijing and Shanghai while providing a catalyst for the two companies to establish campuses elsewhere in the country. EdgeConneX’s footprint now spans 50 markets across four continents.
“Over the last ten years, EdgeConneX built out its global data center platform by working with our customers to give them the data center capacity where they want it, when they want it and at the scale they want it,” said Randy Brouckman, CEO of EdgeConneX. “As our customers look for solutions in the APAC [Asia Pacific] region, it’s vital that we include a data center presence and team in China.
“The investment in Chayora provides EdgeConneX customers with an ideal data center partner that can support their digital infrastructure requirements in China,” Brouckman continued. “At the same time, the EdgeConneX global platform can support Chinese firms that have international requirements. It’s a win-win for customers as EdgeConneX and Chayora can provide a comprehensive data center platform domestically in China and internationally in any global market that can support a full spectrum of hyperlocal to hyperscale deployments.”
“China represents the largest and one of the most challenging markets for global digital infrastructure users, and through the team we have built in Chayora, we can address all demands, to any scale for the world’s largest data center customers,” added Oliver Jones, CEO of Chayora Holdings. “We are therefore delighted to bring EdgeConneX in alongside our existing institutional investment partner Actis as the global reach and recognition of the EdgeConneX track record and approach will help accelerate our expansion. We are also excited by the investment deal we have agreed in terms of assured capital availability at ‘China-scale’ to suit the characteristics of our principal market. Our team’s values and those of EdgeConneX are a close fit and this will be immensely valuable as we both take a big step forward together.”
Actis will continue as the major shareholder in Chayora after the investment transaction closes. “We are delighted for Chayora to establish this strategic partnership with EdgeConneX through the investment,” commented Thomas Liu, Partner of Actis. “As a global sustainable infrastructure investor with a long history of investing in China, we look forward to working closely with the EdgeConneX team to jointly support Chayora’s endeavor in expanding and growing its business in the China data center market.”
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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