Apr, 2011 : Q9 Networks Opens New Kamloops Data Center

📅 April 5, 2011 - Company demonstrates consistent ability to deliver critical capacity on time.

Q9 Networks Inc., a provider of outsourced data center infrastructure, yesterday announced that less than two months after opening the first phase of its new 240,000 square foot data center in Brampton, Ontario, it has expanded again, opening the first two phases of a six megawatt data center site in Kamloops, British Columbia. The company says that initiated as part of the previously announced agreement with HP Advanced Solutions Inc. to provide data center services to the British Columbia government, the new facility opened at 9:00am on April 1, 2011 as originally scheduled two years ago. It will serve private sector as well as public sector customers in Western Canada.

According to it, the Kamloops data center includes such features as outside air cooling capability to maximize energy efficiency, biometric security systems, multiple connections to the Internet, redundant power, redundant cooling and advanced fire detection and suppression systems, as well as 7x24 on-site security and technical support teams. Interconnected with the company's three other data centers in Western Canada, the facility offers customers a range of business continuity options using two or more data centers.

The company states that it designs, builds and operates its data centers to meet the most demanding IT infrastructure requirements, including the increased power and cooling demands of today's high density computing devices. Customers connect to the Internet via its network and are protected by its 100 per cent, SLA-backed uptime guarantees on both power and network availability. Customer equipment and data center environmental parameters are monitored 7x24 by the company's control centers, staffed by experts versed in all aspects of IT, facilities and security management.

It mentions that over the last three years, the company has doubled its capacity across Canada in response to continuously growing customer demand. At the same time, it acquired real estate sufficient to nearly triple current capacity within its existing footprint. By making these strategic investments, the company has ensured its customers can continue to quickly and easily scale their IT infrastructure to support their growth. Including the new Kamloops facility, it has 10 operational data centers in three provinces. The company adds that since 2000, investments in data center capacity have totaled more than $340 million. It secured $210 million in new financing in April 2010 and is backed by private equity investment firm ABRY Partners.

"To my knowledge, we are the only data center company in Canada to have ever completed back-to-back builds of this scale," said Q9 Chief Executive Officer, Osama Arafat. "The fact that they were both completed on time is a testament to our unique in-house design and build team; a team that allows us to deliver critical customer capacity in very aggressive timeframes. With the Kamloops opening, we have delivered on our commitment to HP Advanced Solutions. We are also excited about the opportunity to serve new and existing business customers in Vancouver and across Western Canada from the new Kamloops location."