BlackSwan Zine

NEWPORT, Wales–(Business Wire)–

Next Generation Data has opened a $326 million data center – known as NGD Europe

- in Newport, Wales, to provide secure, sustainable data storage to U.K. and

European blue-chip companies. The center is the largest of its kind in the U.K.

and one of the largest in Europe.

The center`s opening follows an 18-month-long project to convert a former

semiconductor plant to a 700,000-square-foot space that can be divided into

multiple separate data halls for individual clients. NGD Europe can house up to

19,000 server racks and can support the intensive computing environments needed

for cloud computing, super computing and grid computing.

Next Generation Data is now offering a range of wholesale space-only contracts

to large organizations, which include essentials such as power supply, cooling

systems, high speed network carrier connections, security and operations

personnel. Already, long-term contracts have been signed with several blue chip

companies that will move in early next year.

Next Generation Data has received significant debt facilities from Lombard, the

arm of The Royal Bank of Scotland, to finance the equipment to be installed for

major blue chip customers that are moving extensive operations into the center

early next year.

“In a very tough economic climate we are delighted to have come through on time

and on budget with the first critical phase of this extensive project,” said

Simon Taylor, Chairman and Co-founder of Next Generation Data. “We have always

enjoyed a strong and very supportive relationship with the Welsh Assembly

Government for which we are very appreciative. Without it a major project like

this just would not be possible.”

“This investment is a critically important addition to the IT and

telecommunications infrastructure in Wales,” said Geraint Jones, head of

International Business Wales, Americas. “North American companies locating in

the U.K. will find Wales an attractive alternative to crowded London, given all

the issues London faces with electrical power and cost of doing business.”

NGD Europe assures a highly secure environment through a range of measures

including triple-skinned walls, bomb-proof glass, prison grade perimeter

fencing, infrared detection, biometric recognition and ex-special forces

security guards. It is an excellent disaster recovery site for companies with

critical data applications.

In addition to the state-of-the-art data center infrastructure and services

provided, NGD Europe will offer sophisticated office space for customer

technical support and administration teams, with meeting rooms and conference

suites available 24 hours a day.

About Next Generation Data:

Next Generation Data is one of Europe`s leading data center specialists, with a

design and management team that has built and operated some of the world`s best

data center projects. NGD Europe is one of the newest and most advanced data

centers incorporating all the latest technologies. It is designed to support

high level technology infrastructure, has a high capacity power supply direct

from the super grid and a variety of available interconnects. For more

information, please visit www.nextgenerationdata.co.uk.

About International Business Wales

International Business Wales is the economic development arm of the Welsh

Assembly Government with the responsibility of helping international

corporations locate operations in Wales, and with promoting international trade

by Welsh businesses. IBW can assist businesses in finding suitable properties in

Wales for their operations, help them in finding employees and in obtaining

financial assistance from the Welsh government, when appropriate. For more

information, visit www.ibwales.com

International Business Wales

April Nichols, 212-620-7100 ext. 219

or

John Mulqueen, 212-620-7100 ext. 229

from Business Wire

[reuters.com]