Eircom is investing more than €100 million in a 11,500sq m data centre in Clonshaugh, Co Dublin, which will open in July this year, writes John Collins.
It is the third significant data centre project to be announced in the Republic in the last year. Data centres house computers and storage facilities in optimal environments with high-speed telecommunications connections.
Eircom will sell a range of managed services from the centre rather than simply rent floorspace to customers.
"Customers get the ideal environment for their critical systems, as well as access to high value technical specialists who are skilled at managing the hardware and software that businesses require," said Cathal Magee, managing director of Eircom's retail division. He said the new facility is likely to create an additional 30 jobs over time but it will be highly automated.
Initially the centre will have 2,700 sq m of raised floor space which can accommodate computer servers. An additional 2,700 sq m will be fitted out later as customer demand dictates.
The telecoms company has three data centres in the Dublin area at the Citywest business park in Saggart, Dundrum and Crown Alley in Temple Bar. The new development will double the space that it has available.
Eircom is in negotiations with a number of Irish and international clients considering locating at the centre. Mr Magee said the company was keen to get an anchor tenant to launch the centre but it would also provide services tailored for smaller firms.
Microsoft has begun construction of a 51,000 sq m data centre in west Dublin, while Rackfloor is developing a 12,000 sq m facility in Limerick.
In common with the Microsoft facility Eircom will reduce power consumption by using ambient air to help cool the computers.
It will require approximately 20 megawatts of power which is being supplied by the ESB. Last year Noel Meaney, chief executive of Premier Data Centres, said the company had plans for two new data centres but could not get adequate power supply to go ahead with the developments.
Rackfloor intends to generate its own power on-site, but will also have a connection to the national grid.
The Clonshaugh facility has been developed by Digital Realty Trust, a US company which owns 66 data centres in the US and Europe.
