Nasdaq-listed digital infrastructure provider Equinix has made an initial investment of US$124 million for its purpose-built International Business Exchange (IBX) data centre in Hong Kong.

Named HK6, the new facility will be interconnected to Equinix’s five existing data centres, which serve as a hub for data and economic exchange between multinational enterprises, local and mainland Chinese companies in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Over the past year, the Equinix Internet Exchange traffic in Hong Kong has grown by almost 50%, reflecting the rapid expansion and development of the digital landscape in the city.

Joanne Hon, managing director at Equinix Hong Kong, says: "We are thrilled to begin construction of our sixth data centre in Hong Kong, as it represents a significant milestone in innovation and growth. HK6 will be Equinix's largest investment in Hong Kong in the past decade, further strengthening the city's digital infrastructure and showcasing our unwavering confidence in this dynamic market. This strategic investment solidifies Hong Kong's position as a crucial gateway for data exchange between China and the global community."

HK6 will be enabled to support the liquid cooling technology essential for supporting high-density, enterprise-grade artificial intelligence workloads. With the significant growth of AI applications, traditional cooling methods often struggle to keep up with the heat generated by high-performance computing. Liquid cooling technology delivers an efficient solution by directly cooling the IT components that generate the most heat.

Equinix says that by utilizing liquid cooling, Equinix can deliver optimal performance and reliability for AI infrastructure, enabling businesses to harness the full potential of AI without compromising on efficiency or scalability.

Like Equinix's other IBX data centres in Hong Kong, HK6 will be 100% covered by renewables. Equinix says it is on track to achieve climate neutrality by 2030, with a strong focus on incorporating clean renewable energy sources throughout its worldwide operations.

HK6 will be located in a building specifically built for data centres in Tsuen Wan, approximately 1.5 kilometres from Equinix’s carrier-dense and ecosystem-rich campus of HK1, HK2 and HK3.

Expected to open in Q1 2026, the first phase of HK6 will provide 1,000 cabinets. Upon completion, the 17-storey data centre will offer a total of 3,550 cabinets, catering to the expansion needs of cloud and financial service providers.