Jul/Aug 19 - ChannelVision Magazine

PCCW Global recently announced the launch of a new Console Connect point- of-presence (PoP) at Global Switch’s Tai Seng data center in Singapore. The Console Connect software- defined interconnection (SDI) platform delivers a simple, user-friendly and af- fordable way to connect to cloud-based applications, partners, client IT infra- structure and the world’s major cloud hosting services, said the company. The platform currently interconnects more than 100 data centers in 36 countries on the PCCW Global MPLS network, which is physically separate to the public in- ternet and features a redundant core network with multiple low-latency paths between countries. Through the Console Connect SDI platform, Global Switch customers in Sin- gapore will be able to access connectivity on-demand to a global network of key data center ecosystems and major cloud on-ramps through a single dashboard interface, including Alibaba Cloud, AWS Direct Connect, Google Interconnect, IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute, QingCloud and Tencent Cloud. eStruxture, a Canadian provider of network and cloud-neutral data center solutions, has launched a new channel partner program designed to facilitate easier access to its portfolio of data center services. The program is open to regional customers and international partners whose end-users are seeking to establish a presence in North America. eStruxture’s program offers two partner categories – Referral Partners and Re- seller Partners. Reseller (VAR) partners can leverage eStruxture’s customizable colocation and network services while being able to layer on additional offerings at their discretion. In this way, Reseller (VAR) Partners stay in control of their customer contracts, support services and mark-up. “By offering comprehensive onboard- ing training, a dedicated eStruxture relationship manager and a host of other resources, we are proving our commitment to helping our partners grow in their respective markets,” said Todd Coleman, CEO of eStruxture. Jaime Leverton, who has been named as the company’s new chief commercial officer, has a long history of working with channel partners, said Coleman. GTT Communications announced a definitive purchase agreement to acquire KPN International, a division of KPN N.V. headquartered in Netherlands, for ap- proximately €50 million in cash, on a cash and debt-free basis. KPN International operates a global IP network serving en- terprise and carrier clients. According to GTT, the transaction aug- ments scale and network reach, adding depth to GTT’s Tier 1 global IP network in Europe across 21 countries, including long-haul fiber routes and metro rings in Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Paris. It adds more than 400 strategic enterprise and carrier clients, and GTT will be the preferred international network supplier for an additional 400 clients retained by KPN “The world-class resources contrib- uted from this acquisition, including a highly experienced team, international network assets and a deep roster of mul- tinational clients, will help us deliver on our purpose of connecting people across organizations around the world and to every application in the cloud,” said Rick Calder, GTT president and CEO. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter 2019 subject to obtaining the required regulatory approvals. PCCW Launches SDI PoP in Singapore eStruxture Launches Partner Program GTT to Acquire KPN International Microsoft Cloud Now Available in Germany DE-CIX, the operator of the largest internet exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, is now the first internet exchange to offer direct connectivity to the Micro- soft cloud service ExpressRoute in the German metropolis. Customers, including internet service providers, carriers and data center operators, now have access to the Microsoft cloud services such as Microsoft Azure through the DE-CIX Direct- CLOUD service. Up until now, customers in Germany needed to connect to the Microsoft Cloud in Amsterdam. Alongside the Microsoft imple- mentation of cloud services, there are more than 50 further cloud providers connected to DE-CIX. These include not only global companies such as Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud but also a large number of special- ized and regional companies and niche providers, said DE-CIX. DE-CIX operates internet exchanges in 18 metropolitan regions around the globe. The location in Frankfurt provides a data throughput of more than 6.8 terabits per second at peak times. DirectCLOUD is an inter- face between internet service providers, companies and data centers on the one side and cloud service providers on the other: through an access at DE-CIX (access via a physical port) they are di- rectly connected with each other over a virtual local area network (VLAN). international Agents 28 Channel Vision | July - August, 2019