With the construction of a second data center in Lisbon, Equinix explains in a statement that it “expands its support for Portugal's position as a strategic 'hub' for terrestrial and submarine networks, reinforcing the country's role as a gateway between the Atlantic and Europe”.

The new data centre, called LS2 InternaFonal Business Exchange (IBX), will be located next to the existing LS1, forming a “dynamic campus” and a “dense digital ecosystem”.

The company also clarifies that this expansion will contribute to “strengthening Portugal’s digital capacity, allowing local companies to grow and prosper, whilst attracting international companies”.

The new LS2, which represents a planned initial investment of around 50 million euros, will also serve as a “vital gateway” for connecting Europe to Africa, in addition to constituting a “fundamental connection point” for communication data with the Americas.

Equinix's global platform, made up of 260 data centres around the world, includes key cities in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, such as Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Bordeaux, Genoa, and Milan, and will further strengthen connectivity in southern Europe.

According to Carlos Paulino, general director of Equinix in Portugal, “the increase in demand [...] from companies in Lisbon and across the Atlantic and Mediterranean makes this investment timely and significant”.

“Lisbon has the potential to become a dense and valuable strategic centre, and we are pleased to contribute to its growth and position ourselves as the cornerstone of Europe”, highlighted the official.

The new Equinix LS2 data center in Lisbon, which is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025, will create around 30 new highly qualified direct and indirect jobs and will occupy 2,050 square meters of space.

Together, Equinix's two data centers in Lisbon (LS1 and LS2) will provide more than 2,000 interconnections as well as network connectivity services to more than 100 enterprise customers, more than 45 networks, and four Internet Exchanges.

The LS2 data center will have 100% renewable energy coverage, will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, and will be the "first company in the data center sector" to commit to climate neutrality global level by 2030, the statement reads.