Bluebird Network unveil expanded underground datacentre
Mon 11 Jul 2016
Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, along with Bluebird Network, a high-speed broadband fibre optic transport provider servicing carrier, enterprise and datacentre customers in the Midwest, have announced the opening of Bluebird Network’s expanded underground datacentre 85 feet beneath the Earth’s surface.
Bluebird was looking to grow and attract new customers to its existing 80,000 sq ft underground datacentre and enlisted Schneider Electric’s specialized knowledge to deal with the many challenges of expanding 16,000 sq ft within an underground limestone mine. Schneider Electric’s Data Center Service Provider team developed a three-phased approach for expanding Bluebird’s underground datacentre to implement tailored solutions throughout the datacentre lifecycle, including Building Management System integration services, Uniflair cooling solutions, Remote Power Panels and more, without interrupting ongoing operations.
“The acquisition and expansion of the underground datacenter are key accomplishments for the Bluebird leadership team, resulting in major opportunities to grow the Bluebird business and bring economic growth to the local community in southwest Missouri,” said Jeff Holland, Director, Design Services, Schneider Electric. “Our team of data center experts understand the unique considerations of implementing an underground data center compared to traditional above ground facilities. We took an innovative and holistic approach to ensure everything from the outlet customers plug equipment in to, to the 2MW back-up generators, are operating efficiently and reliably.”
“Our support and services are mission critical for many of our customers, and we needed a partner that could help us maintain connectivity for our day-to-day operations during the datacentre expansion,” said Michael Morey, President and CEO of Bluebird Network and Bluebird Underground. “With Schneider Electric as a partner, the completion of this initial stage of our expansion enables us to focus on future updates in order to meet the increasing demands of our datacentre customers, while also providing ongoing support through our carrier-class Internet and transport services.”
