The company will also add electricity generation and fuel storage so that the data centre, built in a former mine, can run for four days on its own power.
“This expansion will increase the physical size of the data centre and will augment our current processes to make the facility stronger,” said Michael Morey, president and CEO of Bluebird Network, which has over 6,000 route miles of high-speed broadband and fiber connections.
The current data centre is 17,600 square feet and Bluebird plans to expand it to 22,300 square feet (2,000 square metres). The whole operation occupies 80,000 square feet (7,400 square metres), with the remaining space dedicated to mechanical and electrical support systems.
In addition to the increased white space, the expansion includes a third 2MW generator, another uninterruptible power supply system and a 10,000-gallon (37,000-litre) auxiliary fuel tank.
Bluebird said that, with these improvements, the underground data centre can independently operate for up to four days on generator power, deliver additional A/B power to its customers and improve the overall operational performance of the data centre.
All critical systems will be underground, said the company, giving “the best shield from both natural and unnatural disasters”.
This expansion is the second of three planned since Bluebird acquired the data centre in 2014. “We will provide space to meet increased demand while enhancing our overall services,” said Morey.
Bluebird Network was formed by integrating Bluebird Media, Missouri Network Alliance and Illinois Network Alliance. It has over 135 points of presence in the US Midwest, including Chicago, St Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Tulsa, Omaha, Des Moines and Memphis.
