HP Enterprise Services has paired up with Geo to design and build a fibre network in the UK to connect two data centres in the North-East of England.

Geo has designed new routes between HPs’ existing data centre in Sunderland and their new 330,000 sq. ft. eco-data centre near Middlesbrough.

It will be the largest data centre to be commissioned in Europe in 2010. HP purchased the facility in February and immediately started its fit out as a high tech data centre site. Following completion of the build, the ongoing support and maintenance of this new network will be undertaken by Geo on HP’s behalf.

“The Wynyard Data Centre incorporates the very best of data centre design, from the environmental features critical to its efficient operation through to the IT infrastructure,” said Gary Bailey, HP-Enterprise Services Network Programme Manager.

“A key consideration in designing communication infrastructure for the facility was modelling all possible points of network failure to the highest levels of diversity and security. Geo demonstrated their capabilities in this respect and were selected for their ability to meet these demanding requirements,” added Bailey.

“Geo has a wealth of experience in the design, build and operation of fibre networks in the UK. We have been able to provide HP with the expertise that comes from building and managing nationally more than 3,000km of network throughout the UK,” said Chris Smedley, Chief Executive, Geo.

“Dedicated fibre optic networks offer the highest levels of reliability, total control, no sharing or shaping of traffic with the ability to scale up your bandwidth to as high a level as you need,” added Smedley.