Equinix Data Center Customers May Access AWS in Six Key Global Markets through Expanded Partnership

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Equinix, Inc. have strengthened their partnership with new connectivity options for Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers. AWS Direct Connect now has expanded connectivity options at Equinix data centers, which are located in six key markets throughout the world.

Equinix is also providing additional connectivity to AWS through its Ethernet Exchange, in support of private access to the cloud and service flexibility. Customers have access to multiple connection options below one gigabit per second along with the ability to burst.

The new connectivity choices are designed to help Equinix customers lower their connection costs as well as provide more consistent network performance. The Ethernet Exchange consists of more than eight million lit buildings in 17 markets, offering an exchange fabric for interconnection with cloud companies like AWS as well as a secure location for deploying a hybrid IT architecture.

The companies first partnered in 2011, with Equinix offering access to AWS cloud services through several data centers. AWS Direct Connect is now available in 16 data centers throughout the world, with customers like Badgeville, Box, Carpathia Hosting and NetApp using AWS Direct Connect.

AWS has proven to be the leader in cloud infrastructure, with Gartner naming the company the dominant vendor in the cloud IaaS in its Magic Quadrant report. Earlier this month, Equinix also partnered with Microsoft Corp. to enable cloud connectivity to Windows Azure through its IBX data centers.

Equinix also partners with Desktone to offer desktop-as-a-service (DaaS), NetApp for storage solutions, RightScale for hybrid cloud management and Tier 3 for virtual private clouds.

"Inside Equinix, companies of all sizes can connect to leading cloud providers quickly, securely and affordably,” said Chris Sharp, vice president of cloud innovation for Equinix. “Increasingly, customers require flexible, burstable bandwidth options in order to capture the cost benefits of the cloud. With our new service, we are further democratizing access to the cloud by giving customers the ability to utilize the bandwidth speed that best suits their needs, while providing additional flexibility to handle spikes without compromising service levels."