Combining Proximity-Based Edge Data Centers® and Resilient, High-Capacity Fiber Infrastructure Delivers Exceptional Performance and Faster Content Delivery
Herndon, VA – February 23, 2016 – EdgeConneX®, specializing in global infrastructure solutions at the edge of the network, and Electric Lightwave™, an Integra company and provider of fiber-based, carrier-grade networking, communications and technology solutions, today share the publication of a case study highlighting the benefits of their long-standing partnership. The case study examines how the EdgeConneX purpose-built, proximity-based Edge Data Centers®, combined with Electric Lightwave’s reliable, secure and high capacity fiber network, move Internet content, cloud and enterprise applications closer to the end-user. Uniting Edge Data Centers with Electric Lightwave’s resilient network creates a faster end-to-end solution, while enhancing performance and reducing costs for accessing the Cloud, social media or corporate infrastructure.
EdgeConneX Edge Data Centers are purpose-built to offer security, speed and performance improvements. These innovations enable customers to deliver digital content to any end-user as fast as possible. Every facility is proximity-based, strategically located nearest to the end-user’s point of access to reduce network latency and optimize performance. Local proximity access also brings the Cloud closer to the enterprise, enabling more secure, real-time access to cloud applications and services while offering reduced backbone transport costs. In early 2013, EdgeConneX began working with Electric Lightwave to provide network connectivity for seven initial regional locations, including Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Denver.
Benefits that customers experience from the Electric Lightwave and EdgeConneX partnership include:
- Network security, speed and performance improvements enabling customers to deliver digital content fast to any customer;
- The most innovative data center ecosystem in the western U.S. for accessing and delivering digital content, expanding the infrastructure for many of the world’s largest technology companies;
- Ability for Edge Data Center tenants to tap into virtually unlimited bandwidth and achieve more reliable fiber connectivity, exceptional performance and faster delivery of their content;
- Enablement of cloud, social media and corporate infrastructures with new capabilities and opportunities for accessing and transporting digital content;
- 4K Ultra HD streaming video, now available with many popular Over-the-Top (OTT) content providers including Amazon Video, Netflix and YouTube, can now be served in new markets through a cost-effective, higher performing technology infrastructure for both creators and consumers; and
- More secure, real-time access to cloud applications and services with reduced backbone transport costs because every facility is strategically located nearest to the end-user’s point of access to reduce network latency and optimize performance – bringing the Cloud closer to the enterprise.
As the case study illustrates, the rates of content creation and consumption are growing exponentially, with experts estimating that in the next five years, the market will grow from 1.8 billion connected individuals with 4 billion connected devices, to upwards of 9 billion individuals with 75 billion devices. However, the Internet and supporting infrastructure have not kept pace, leading to a predicted drop in user satisfaction and thus slowing adoption of new technologies that help drive enterprise revenue and efficiency. The Cloud, social media, online gaming, healthcare and enterprises need a solution to the challenge of utilizing technology to its full potential in order to drive efficiency improvements that increase profit, revenue and customer loyalty. The answer is the combination of a resilient, high-capacity fiber infrastructure and a localized data center platform near end-users. According to Gartner’s Edge Manifesto, these increased workloads require “the use of smaller, distributed, connected data centers, closer to concentrations of users and generators of content.”
“Partnering with Electric Lightwave was a natural choice because they own and operate one of the most extensive and diverse fiber networks in the western U.S.,” comments Clint Heiden, chief commerce officer, EdgeConneX. “They also had an established business with a large roster of enterprise customers. Given that proximity is so important for our customers, it was serendipitous that Electric Lightwave had a very similar footprint as ours. Our business model relies on proximity and when we realized that Electric Lightwave already had an established presence in many of the same metro areas where we were building new Edge Data Centers, it was clear that our vision for the future of the Internet’s infrastructure mapped perfectly with their vision,” adds Heiden.
“Electric Lightwave and EdgeConneX are aligned on the mission of enabling Internet innovation at the Edge,” states Dan Stoll, president, Electric Lightwave. “Electric Lightwave offers high-capacity Wavelength and Ethernet access technologies to enable the fastest and most secure content delivery possible from each Edge Data Center. It is uniquely gratifying to find a partnership with a company whose cultural ethos matches ours, in placing a premium on delivering the exceptional end-user experiences that our customers demand.”
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About EdgeConneX®
EdgeConneX® is a global data center provider specializing in infrastructure solutions at the edge of the network. They provide Space, Power & Connectivity for content, network, cloud, colocation, CDNs and service providers, as well as wireless carriers, telecommunications companies, and commercial property owners. EdgeConneX has created a new Edge for traditional networks, offering superior performance and economics. Their purpose-built Meet You Points® optimize delivery of data at network-critical locations closest to the end user. For more information, please visit the EdgeConneX Internet of Everywhere at edgeconnex.com.
About Electric Lightwave™, an Integra™ Company
Electric Lightwave™, an Integra™ company, serves as a trusted network infrastructure partner to enterprises, government agencies and carriers in select markets throughout the western United States. We combine dense metro and intercity fiber assets, enterprise-grade network solutions, including Ethernet, Wavelengths and IP, with a highly responsive and easy to do business with approach. Electric Lightwave offers a premium service experience to match our premium network infrastructure solutions. For more information, visit www.electriclightwave.com.