Interxion unveils its MRS2 data center in Marseille

With a total area of ​​4400 m2, the MRS2 will have a power of more than 7MW.

Some 300 guests, including telecom operators and tech industry figures, were invited to the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (Mucem) for the opening of Interxion's second data center in Marseille, dubbed "MRS2". The Netherlands-based group was awarded the "Invest in Provence" label for its investments in three data centers in Marseille, covering an approximate total of €220m. David Ruberg, CEO of the Interxion Group, and Fabrice Coquio, Managing Director of Interxion France, consider Marseille to be a strategic location that will allow the group to meet its customers' growing needs for global data exchanges.

Housed in the former Fouré-Lagadec port depot, Interxion's MRS2 data center partially entered into service on May 16, as scheduled. "Today we're opening up 900 m2 of IT space. We're taking it step by step. The data center, which occupies 4400m2 of total floor space, will be completed in late 2018," noted Fabrice Coquio, Managing Director of Interxion France. The building, a recognized "Monument Remarquable" (Outstanding Monument) that dates back to 1952, houses a next-generation data center that meets all of the group's standards. It wasn't possible to wait until work on the building was complete. "We already have thirty customers at MRS2. Some of them are new, while others are continuing their relationship with us", noted Mr. Coquio. One American customer has already reserved 3 megawatts' worth of storage racks at MRS2 and just as much wattage at MRS3, which will be set up in the former German naval base known as "Martha", another structure that was built on the docks right before the armistice.

MRS2 will provide more than 7MW of power. The power will be provided by Enedis using renewable energy sources, generating 7% in additional costs for Interxion. The data center alone cost €75m, 70% of which went toward electrical and climate-control infrastructures.

16 underwater cables in 2019

By late 2018, entry to the data center will be through a private, secure access ramp that bypasses Gate 4 of the port.

Ever since Interxion came to Marseille in 2014 (with its purchase of MRS1 from SFR), the group has invested €220m in three data centers. Since 2005, the year that the first fiber-optic cable was installed in Marseille, the city has been a crossroads for global underwater digital communications.

Interxion's move into Marseille was hailed by the local communities and Provence Promotion, the economic development agency for the Aix-Marseille-Provence area, during an event held at the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (Mucem), sponsored by Interxion. The CEO of Provence Promotion, Philippe Stéfanini, awarded the "Invest in Provence" label to David Ruberg, CEO of the Interxion Group, and Fabrice Coquio.

"This move into Marseille's major seaport represents a new stage in our development. We occupy a prime location near 13 underwater cables that connect us to 45 countries and 4.5 billion people in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Three other cables will be installed by 2019, with a capacity equivalent to the other 13 cables", stated Fabrice Coquio.

In 2017, Interxion generated €520m in revenue, for a net profit of €73m. Interxion, which operates 50 data centers, is looking to leverage the strategic position occupied by France, the only country with two hubs—one in Paris (for the northern Europe region) and another in Marseille (for the Africa region). The prime location was also a major source of appeal for Infosys. The Indian tech giant will be setting up office in Marseille in June.