Data centre in development

A report before Derry City Council's Development Committee last week advised work on developing a Data Centre to link-up to the multi-million pound Hibernia Atlantic Project Kelvin was moving forward.

The progress on the Data Centre follows a vocal campaign for one to be established in Londonderry to allow the city capitalise on the higher telecoms capacity Project Kelvin brings.

Londonderry MLA Mark Durkan recently said that whilst securing the Project Kelvin Telehouse was like throwing a six on a board game, we now have to get the rest of the throws right – including additional investment for a data centre which will attract the sort of companies and hi-end jobs the city needs.

Now it has emerged that proposals are being produced by the local Council identifying the economic and social benefits to be gained from a Data Centre development.

The purpose of last Tuesday's report was to update members of the Development Committee on the activity, which has taken place since the International Connectivity Marketing Strategy and Plan was produced to capitalise on Project Kelvin in October 2009.

Councillors were advised an investor is currently working with Council and the private sector on a Data Centre attraction for telecommunication firms. The Data Centre World Expo was also attended by officers to make further connections with the industry.

Cross border power supply efforts and cross border property/tax propositions across Londonderry, Donegal and Strabane are presently being developed to facilitate the Data Centre.

The report revealed last week that this was private sector led with support from Council and ERNACT ongoing.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fin MLA Martina Anderson told the Stormont Committee For The Office Of The First Minister And Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) on Monday, April 12, that work on a Data Centre is already underway in Londonderry.

She said: "A small data centre is being built as we speak in Derry. It will produce almost three times the speed at a reduced price for

SMEs. Hopefully, others will come on board."

Meanwhile, the Department for Social Development (DSD) has officially handed over the Project Kelvin Telehouse to Hibernia Atlantic.

Hibernia Atlantic, the transatlantic cable firm, will now complete the fit-out of the facility. This will enable businesses across the North West to access high speed broadband communications with North America directly through a transatlantic communications network.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie, said: "The successful completion of the Project Kelvin Telehouse at Fort George, is an example of how the public and private sectors can work together to deliver for Derry.

"My Department and Ilex will continue to work with the private sector to maximise both the benefits of the investment in Project Kelvin and the benefits this can deliver for all the people of the city."

Scott McClelland, North West Electronics (NWE) Group Managing Director added: "This is great news for the North West. With a top class facility connected directly to the project Kelvin infrastructure, we will have the facilities to connect businesses and enterprises to the shortest and fastest routes to the worlds internet exchanges.

"This is the first development of its type outside Belfast and Dublin and it will put us in the position to take full advantage of the first point in Europe that connects subsea cables to the United States.

"I would like to acknowledge the swift response of the Department for Social Development's North West Development Office and Department for Regional Development's Roads Service who have facilitated the laying of 8km of fibre optic cables that will connect our new development to the Project Kelvin telehouse."

The Department had previously provided funding of 500,000 to Ilex, Londonderry's regeneration company, enabling the Project Kelvin Telehouse to be constructed at Fort George.

The location of this facility on the DSD-owned site, is seen as both an important marketing tool for the city and a trigger for further economic activity.

DSD also confirmed that it has given permission to NWE Wireless Networks, a local electronics company, to run a fibre optic cable from its offices at Skeoge Industrial Park through DSD land at Galliagh Linear Park to connect to the telehouse. This is the first practical example of local businesses benefiting from Project Kelvin.

The NWE Group is developing a Half Megawatt Datacentre. This facility will use the latest Green technologies to save 25% energy costs in comparison to other similar centres.

NWE Group's Communications House Building is presently being fitted out to house servers and routers providing access to the latest cloud computing solutions which connect and deliver content to the internet for businesses.