Equinix opens its second data center in Korea, supporting the development of AI technology.

Digital infrastructure provider Equinix announced on the 23rd SL4, its second Equinix International Business ExchangeTM (IBX®) data center in Korea. Scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2024, SL4 will accelerate the adoption of AI by domestic companies as well as foreign companies that have entered Korea.

According to the Equinix Global Technology Trends Survey 2023, 72% of IT leaders in Korea responded that their IT infrastructure does not meet the standards required for AI technology. As more and more AI hardware requires high-performance, specialized cooling technology and specialized networking, a hybrid multi-cloud architecture that includes cloud, colocation, and on-premise data centers is becoming necessary.

With the opening of SL4, Equinix will enable enterprises to access Platform Equinix® and on-demand digital services in-country. “Enterprises will benefit from ecosystem, cloud proximity, globally interconnected data processing locations, and strategic partnerships with industry-leading AI infrastructure providers,” Equinix said.

Equinix SL4 will be housed within SL2x, an xScaleTM data center located in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, and will offer a capacity of 475 cabinets. SL4 will be directly connected to SL1, Equinix’s first IBX data center in Korea, located in Seoul, via low-latency optical cables. Customers in SL4 will be able to securely interconnect with leading cloud service providers (CSPs), global networks, content delivery network (CDN) providers, telecommunications companies, Internet service providers (ISPs), and Internet exchanges (IXs) such as KINX and Sejong Telecom’s Internet Exchange (KRIX).

Meanwhile, Equinix currently operates over 250 data centers in 71 locations worldwide, serving more than 10,000 leading enterprises worldwide. In Asia Pacific, it operates 52 data centers in major cities in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore, Korea, and more. In addition, Equinix announced plans to expand into Malaysia and Indonesia to support business growth in the region.

“As AI technology advances at an incredible pace, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to innovate their IT infrastructure,” said Jang Hye-deok, Equinix Korea representative. “Equinix has and will continue to support customers in Korea with an interconnected digital ecosystem and robust digital infrastructure,” he said. “As Equinix expands its digital platform through the SL4 opening, enterprises will be able to effectively connect with technology partners within advanced AI infrastructure and ecosystems.”