An artist's impression of NextDC's Melbourne facility, scheduled for construction this year.
Recently-listed data centre player NextDC (ASX:NXT) has delayed the live launch of its Brisbane facility, with the Queensland floods pushing back installation of high voltage equipment by energy utility Energex.
According to the company, the CBD-based 2300 sqm facility, which was initially slated for a December 2010 launch when the provider first launched last year, was not adversely affected during the January floods, but prioritisation of rebuilding efforts in the state by Energex had delayed the company’s plans.
“Restoring power to the city’s major transmission network, including a number of significant buildings in the Brisbane CBD, is Energex’s highest priority at this time and it is now expected that the high voltage installation will proceed in April 2011,” a the company’s business update reads.
The company has continued to pursue potential refurbishment of the facility with Brisbane City Council, but noted neither this nor delays to its live launch would affect customer opportunities.
NextDC, which raised $40 million capital funding during its initial public offering in December last year, has also progressed with its plans to open a 14,000 sqm Melbourne facility by the end of the year, winning development approval from Melbourne City Council and awarding FDC Construction and Fitout the contract for inital fitout of data centre space.
The data centre is expected to provide 6000 sqm of data centre space once it is fully opened. Half of its initial 2000 sqm opening has already been assigned to Harbor MSP, which signed a seven-year contract to occupy the facility.
“The commitment by Harbour MSP is indicative of the level of interest we are seeing in the Melbourne facility,” said Bevan Slattery, NextDC founder and former chief executive of fibre wholesale provider, Pipe Networks.
A Sydney data centre is also planned for unveiling next month.
NextDC's continued advances into the data centre follow similar moves by the likes of HP and Vocus, through its recently acquired E3 Networks facility in Sydney.
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