Telecommunications and managed services provider 5G Networks recently announced that it’s secured a deal with modular data centre operator DXN. This service agreement between the two companies will enable DXN to provide business continuity capabilities with the help of 5GN’s Dark Fibre and IP transit solutions. 

Earlier this year, 5GN launched its wholesale business unit in order to increase the wholesale services it offers for MSPs by adding data centre and connectivity services, IP transit, and cloud services. 

Dark fibre, also known as unlit fibre, is unused optical fibre. Fairly recently, it has started offering unique, often private, services that lit or used fibre cables - like those typically used in long-distance communication - otherwise can’t accommodate. Meanwhile, IP transit is a subset of the rather complex market for wholesale internet connectivity, along with paid peering, settlement-free peering, and content delivery.

Both those services are important for companies that rely on the internet to some extent. Dark fibre can be used to create a network that is privately operated. This would give a company more control over its network, compared to purchasing bandwidth on an existing one. Meanwhile, IP transit involves an internet service provider or ISP allowing online traffic to travel through their network to reach its destination. 

DXN connectivity director Michael Smith said that the operator’s Sydney-based data centre, DXN-SYD01, is a facility that’s geared toward flexibility. Since January 2021, DXN has focused on customised options for connectivity and space as well as solutions centred around the customer. Smith adds that this is the reason why 5GN is a “strong fit” for them, and just makes sense as a strategic partner. 

The partnership means that 5GN will provide its fibre and connectivity solutions, which include direct peering with Tier 1 carriers through the IP transit solution - to DXN’s Sydney-based data centre colocation facility. It also means that DXN will now be able to take full advantage of 5GN’s fibre and data centre connectivity solutions. 

With a capacity of up to 600GB of data using the company’s points of presence (PoPs) across Australia, 5GN’s IP transit offering is a hefty one - and no doubt welcome when it comes to data centre operations. In addition, 5GN’s Dark Fibre offering will give partners the flexibility needed to decide how, when, and where to connect to the internet, eliminating the need to build their own networks from scratch. 

This is good news for a company that offers modular data centres. These portable and compact systems are made to offer scalable data centre capacity along with multiple power and cooling options. There’s no question that IP transit and Dark Fibre will both bring the added flexibility that this sort of service requires.

“5GN is pleased to be DXN’s partner of choice,” 5GN managing director Joe Demase said, adding that, like many of the company’s wholesale customers, DXN is looking for “responsive, agile digital infrastructure partners to enable their continued growth and flexibility.” That, Demase says, is exactly what 5GN Wholesale can provide.