Equinix, the data center and interconnection company, has expanded its collaboration with IBM Cloud to bring connectivity to global enterprises via Equinix Cloud Exchange Fabric (ECX Fabric).

The expansion builds on the Equinix and IBM relationship where IBM Cloud Direct Link Exchange is deployed in more Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers globally than any other Direct Link Exchange provider.

Greg Adgate, Equinix‘s vice president of global partnerships and alliances, tells us his company’s partners are focused on delivering hybrid multicloud solutions in support of end-user digital transformation projects. IBM cloud offers a set of services/technologies like AI, data analytics and blockchain, giving partners enterprise grade offerings for their clients, he said.

Equinix’s Greg Adgate

“Proximity means performance and private interconnection means savings,” he said. “Equinix partners leverage our global reach to deliver hybrid multicloud solutions where their clients need service. Having more locations to deliver private connectivity to IBM Cloud means our partners connect applications via a secure, low latency, high-throughput link that also provides networking and data transit cost advantages.”

Additionally, Equinix has joined the IBM Cloud Direct Link Service Provider Program, providing at least one Direct Link point of presence in each of IBM’s strategic markets and allowing private connections to IBM Cloud. Customers in 16 metropolitan areas globally can create a “secure, private cloud on-ramp” to connect to IBM Cloud, according to Equinix.

“Our partners will be able to deliver consistent hybrid service offerings in more markets, allowing their customers to expand to new markets quickly while maintaining security, performance and ability to scale,” Adgate said.

Equinix’s channel program strategy is to work with partners who embed Equinix colocation and interconnection value into their hybrid multicloud service offerings, he said.

“Our partners’ expertise in application and infrastructure modernization combined with Equinix colocation and interconnection advantages, provide end users the perfect mix of expertise, security, performance and reliability to successfully deliver on complex business transformation efforts,” Adgate said.

Gabriel Montanti, IBM Cloud’s global offering executive, said enterprises are rapidly building next-generation applications on the cloud that leverage blockchain, AI, IoT, machine learning and more.

“With the ability to directly connect to business-critical applications from multiple points of presence within Equinix data centers located in key global metros, our customers can anticipate to more effectively integrate hybrid cloud strategies designed for improved security, reliability and performance,” he said.