The strategic network interconnection facility owner and operator, founded by veteran telecoms entrepreneur Hunter Newby, said that the new site would provide internet, application and content companies with a secure, carrier-neutral facility for interconnectivity options. It is the company’s second property in Canada and will feature 5,000 sq ft of space in Phase One.
"As the nation's Capital, no city is as deserving of having its own network-neutral carrier hotel and Meet Me Room," stated Hunter Newby, founder of Fibre Centre.
"We have spent over two years analysing the market, exploring options and building consensus within the Internet community in Ottawa and we are very pleased and excited to make this announcement."
Fibre Centre currently owns and operates the largest and only carrier hotel in Atlantic Canada with regional, national and global networks, including the major national incumbent as well as local competitive network operators as customers and is also the host facility for the Moncton Internet Exchange.
The carrier-neutral facility in Ottawa will provide customers with the ability to access multiple dark fibre as well as Ethernet and Internet Protocol-based networks including an Internet Exchange Point.
"Our global expansion team has worked closely with Fibre Centre over the last two years, helping the company to establish operations and grow their team in Ottawa. Fibre Centre's carrier-neutral core network interconnection facility provides strategic infrastructure our city needs to drive innovation,” added Michael Tremblay, president and CEO of Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards.
“It improves interconnectivity and reduces the cost of data transmission between networks, making Internet access more affordable. This capability will support the growth of existing companies and attract new firms that rely on network services. This will create new opportunity and high-value jobs in our region.”
Jean-Philippe Gagnon, GM of Eastern Canada's premier metro carrier Fibrenoire, said that they see the establishment of a carrier-neutral interconnection facility near the heart of the City as “a critical element of a dynamic telecommunications ecosystem which can only benefit Ottawa providers and customers alike”. “Fibrenoire looks forward to working with Fibre Centre Ottawa and on the opportunities its establishment will make possible,” added Gagnon.
The facility will feature redundant cooling systems, generator and redundant UPS power. The colocation site will also include an electrical AC and DC systems with A and B power options, biometric security and video surveillance monitoring. 16,000 square feet of space will be available at Phase Three of the Fibre Centre Ottawa development.
Hydro Ottawa has been working closely with the Invest Ottawa, The City of Ottawa and Fibre Centre to help achieve the vision of a connected city of the future. "Connectivity is key to achieving a smart energy future and the establishment of a carrier-neutral centre is an important step to achieving this vision by bringing faster internet speeds and data at affordable prices," said Mark Fernandes, chief information and technology officer. “Hydro Ottawa is proud to support the electrical infrastructure needed to create a carrier hub that will better serve our communities connectivity needs.”
