A multimillion Euro, Europe-wide network owned and managed by an Irish management team has struck a major collocation deal with one of Europe’s largest TV production companies and the creators of the Big Brother franchises Endemol.
Noel Meaney’s euNetworks will deploy an integrated collocation and private fibre network that will create a twin facility data centre for guaranteed business continuity for Endemol.
The new network will link all of Endemol’s production facilities with the Media Gateway in Holland, the central hub for all content owners and media distributors including broadcasters, ISPs, telecoms firms and cable companies.
“We are delighted that a market leader such as Enemol selected euNetworks for delivery of their mission-critical communications and business continuity solutions,” said Meaney.
“Our high-capacity, densely meshed network, integrated with our high-power density data centre, enables Endemol with the security, resilience and scalability of a fast-growing content driven company that Endemol requires.”
Endemol’s ICT manager Leon Backbier said that a key criteria in the decision was euNetworks’ ability to integrate fibre networks with their collocation facilities, “enabling a future-proofed, scalable content delivery network and enhanced business continuity”.
Meaney established his euNetworks business originally as Global Voice upon acquiring the former assets of Metromedia after leading a management buyout.
Prior to the buyout, Metromedia had spent €650m deploying data centres and fibre infrastructure across various European cities including Dublin. Before its parent firm fell into financial difficulties, Metromedia was close to completing a US$110m investment in Ireland, consisting of a US$75m data centre and a US$45m fibre ring that stretched for 100km around Dublin City.
Meaney’s Global Voice listed on the Singapore stock exchange in October 2004 through a reverse takeover of Horizon Education and Technologies. The company now has fibre networks across 14 European cities which provide access to key locations within a city including business and industrial parks, educational centres, financial centres, government buildings and internet exchanges.
Last June Meaney acquired the assets of major European intercity fibre optic network across Europe owned by Viatel Networks in a cash deal valued at €25m. The network was originally built at a cost of €2bn.
By John Kennedy
