Next Generation Data Opens $326 Million Data Center In Wales, U.K.

Next Generation Data has opened a $326 million data center – known as NGD Europe – in Newport, Wales, to provide secure, sustainable data storage to U.K. and European blue-chip companies. The center is the largest of its kind in the U.K. and one of the largest in Europe.

The center’s opening follows an 18-month-long project to convert a former semiconductor plant to a 700,000-square-foot space that can be divided into multiple separate data halls for individual clients. NGD Europe can house up to 19,000 server racks and can support the intensive computing environments needed for cloud computing, super computing and grid computing.

Next Generation Data is now offering a range of wholesale space-only contracts to large organizations, which include essentials such as power supply, cooling systems, high speed network carrier connections, security and operations personnel. Already, long-term contracts have been signed with several blue chip companies that will move in early next year.

Next Generation Data has received significant debt facilities from Lombard, the arm of The Royal Bank of Scotland, to finance the equipment to be installed for major blue chip customers that are moving extensive operations into the center early next year.

"In a very tough economic climate we are delighted to have come through on time and on budget with the first critical phase of this extensive project," said Simon Taylor, Chairman and Co-founder of Next Generation Data. "We have always enjoyed a strong and very supportive relationship with the Welsh Assembly Government for which we are very appreciative. Without it a major project like this just would not be possible."

"This investment is a critically important addition to the IT and telecommunications infrastructure in Wales," said Geraint Jones, head of International Business Wales, Americas. “North American companies locating in the U.K. will find Wales an attractive alternative to crowded London, given all the issues London faces with electrical power and cost of doing business."

NGD Europe assures a highly secure environment through a range of measures including triple-skinned walls, bomb-proof glass, prison grade perimeter fencing, infrared detection, biometric recognition and ex-special forces security guards. It is an excellent disaster recovery site for companies with critical data applications.

In addition to the state-of-the-art data center infrastructure and services provided, NGD Europe will offer sophisticated office space for customer technical support and administration teams, with meeting rooms and conference suites available 24 hours a day.