Virgin Media Business Wholesale, a division of Virgin Media O2, has significantly upgraded the Manchester Equinix MA5 data center with advanced high-capacity fibre routes, enhancing connectivity in Manchester and the broader north of England.
This upgrade positions the Manchester MA5 as a crucial node within Virgin Media Business Wholesale’s extensive network, which includes over 160 data centers across the UK. The enhanced infrastructure is particularly beneficial for hyperscalers, connectivity resellers, and enterprises that require ultra-low-latency connections, thanks to its premium colocation services and substantial long-term capacity.
Described as a pivotal addition to the UK’s major network ecosystem and interconnection hub outside of London, the development promises to expand high-speed infrastructure options for businesses in the region. The new capabilities at Manchester MA5 support bandwidths up to 100Gbps, accommodating services like 10Gbps National Ethernet and both 10Gbps and 100Gbps National High-Capacity Services.
Lorraine Wilkinson, Regional Vice President of Equinix UK, highlighted the strategic importance of this investment, projecting a 43% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in interconnection bandwidth by 2025, driven by demand from network, content and media, and financial services sectors.
In addition to Manchester, Virgin Media Business Wholesale is enhancing network capabilities at four other data centers across the UK, including sites in Slough and the London Docklands area. These upgrades, now live, offer diverse and cost-effective solutions for scalable networks.
John Chester, Wholesale Fixed Director at Virgin Media O2, expressed enthusiasm about adding Manchester MA5 to their extensive portfolio. He emphasized that this upgrade will provide more efficient and cost-effective network solutions, enhancing the reach and diversity of their network across the region.
These improvements are part of a multi-million-pound investment by Virgin Media Business Wholesale to bolster their 10Gbps portfolio, focusing on faster connections through increased automation and shorter delivery times. Further expansions are anticipated later in 2024, aiming for comprehensive nationwide availability.
