NBN Co has awarded a $3 million contract to Global Switch for housing hardware and software systems.
Global Switch operates multiple data centres around the world and recently expanded its Sydney-based data centre.
NBN Co needs somewhere to install hardware equipment to run the mainland network, which is expected to start offering services in early 2011, depending on the roll out timetable. The initial contract is worth $3 million, but is expected to increase as NBN Co’s network grows.
“Being a start-up, we can ensure that the hosting of all our hardware and software is done cost effectively and can be up-scaled as we grow,” NBN Co’s head of corporate services, Kevin Brown said in a statement this afternoon.
“These very specialised facilities need to be secure, environmentally friendly and well run,” he said.
NBN Co is a government-owned company set up to build and operate a national wholesale fibre optic broadband network.
Global Switch is owned by Reuben Brothers, run by British brothers David and Simon Reuben, and the current executive chair is a former chief financial officer of Australian company Multiplex Group, John Corcoran.
It addition to the Sydney centre, it operates eight data centres around the world in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Madrid and Singapore.