Data centre operator NEXTDC (ASX: NXT) has opened up a direct connection to Amazon Web Services (AWS) from its M1 Melbourne data centre facility adding to its existing connections to Microsoft Azure and IBM Softlayer.
The connection is the third of its kind in Australia and the first outside of Sydney where the AWS data centre is based. The two existing connections are through Equinix SY3 and Global Switch.
The service allows partners colocating in the data centre and Melbourne-based AWS customers to access AWS direct connect through a cross-connect service at M1.
NEXTDC said customers in other locations can leverage inter-capital services and secure elastic connections via its AXONVX network to connect to AWS Direct Connect at M1 or one of the Sydney locations.
NEXTDC CEO Craig Scroggie said the fact that AWS chose M1 data centre to host a Direct Connect point-of-presence is a testament to the quality of the facility and strength of the company's customer and partner ecosystem.
"We’re very pleased to see NEXTDC join the select group of the world’s leading collocation providers chosen by AWS to host a Direct Connect location.”
AWS Direct Connect provides an alternative to using the public internet to access AWS cloud services by establishing private, low latency network connections to increase the performance, reliability and security of AWS applications and workloads.
“The availability of AWS Direct Connect at M1 is a great opportunity for NEXTDC partners operating in Melbourne,” a NEXTDC spokesperson told ARN.
“They no longer need to pay for inter-capital connections to a Direct Connect location in Sydney.
“Now they have a choice to connect to AWS with either a physical cross connect service at M1, or use AXONVX to establish multiple private elastic cross connects on-demand. This means partners can offer AWS services with reduced connectivity costs."
NEXTDC partners accessing AWS Direct Connect in Sydney may have customers that are geographically closer to the AWS Direct Connect location at M1, which according to the company, makes establishing a presence at M1 a "good way to reduce" the cost of connecting customers to the Sydney location.
“Being able to access any and all of the major public clouds from the one data centre creates a more secure and low-latency service for the end customer, and allows NEXTDC partners to reduce the data centre footprint required to service all their customers’ needs," the spokesperson added.
"Partners can also build any number of hybrid cloud deployments, integrating their customers’ multiple cloud services and internal applications."
ARN contacted AWS for comment but did not receive a reply at the time of publication.
