New £5m data centre for internet group will put port on the smart city map

INTERNET FIRM Connexin is building a state-of-the-art £5m data centre, which has been specially designed to boost Hull in its race to become one of the UK’s leading smart cities.

When the facility opens in December it will create 60 new jobs including engineers, technicians, sales staff and event managers who will invite schools to use the space for learning about how the internet works.

The new data centre – which is called CXNDC – will create new opportunities for local businesses and technology firms. The 200+ rack facility has been designed to ‘tier-3’ reliability specifications and will bring more than 40,000 Mbps of internet connectivity to the region.

Furqan Alamgir, Connexin CEO, said: “Hull is not hanging about in its race to become a smart city. Our investment is real, it’s happening and this stateof-the-art data centre is proof of that. Hull is advancing technologically at pace and it’s a privilege to be part of it.”

Connexin has applied for planning permission with East Riding of Yorkshire Council to develop the facility on a 1.2-acre site at Bridgehead Business Park and has approached the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership’s funding programmes for support with the project costs.

It will also be the home for Connexin’s headquarters, which will include a café, an auditorium to seat 50-plus and a world-class video conferencing suite.

The data centre will offer businesses the option of managed or co-located facilities. Most of the centre’s capacity has been acquired by business customers in the region, but more is being added.

David Donkin, property director at developer Wykeland, said: “Bridgehead is fast becoming the premier business location in the region and we are delighted Connexin have chosen Bridgehead to locate their new data centre and head office there.”

He added: “It will be a fantastic addition and facility on the business park.”