Telstra global unit enters ASX's data centre

Telstra has announced its entry into the ASX's purpose-built data centre with a new point-of-presence (PoP) at the Australian Liquidity Centre in northern Sydney.

[Photos: ASX's Australian Liquidity Centre]

The ALC is a state-of-the-art data centre owned and operated by the ASX that allows parties like financial institutions, telcos and managed service providers to co-locate with the exchange's infrastructure.

A fixed network cable length from ASX computers – 62 metres for the equities market or 65 metres for derivatives – is implemented in order to ensure a level playing field among competitors.

ASX’s technical services head of sales, Adam Bradley, told CRN that while Telstra's domestic business is already an ALC resident, he is excited to welcome the global arm.

"Telstra Global is coming in to facilitate their EPL Express service – to provide high-performance connectivity to other financial markets around the world," said Bradley.

[Related: How a small Sydney MSP paired up with the ASX]

EPL Express is a Telstra service aimed at large international financial institutions. According to the telco, the co-location in the ALC will help meet customer demand for "enhanced market data and low latency solutions".

Matthew Lempriere, global head of financial services market segment for Telstra, said: "Financial institutions are increasingly facing diverse challenges relating to speed, resilience and integrity of data. At the same time they are looking for higher bandwidth and reliable low-latency connectivity."

"This new PoP at the ALC, combined with Telstra's award-winning network, means we are well positioned to provide a consistent service experience and a one-stop-shop for our customers."

Telstra stated that the "new low latency connectivity is backed up by comprehensive service level agreements".

Lempriere added: "The service is highly scalable and can easily handle rapidly changing bandwidth demands, which are characteristic of low latency financial trading and cloud-based services."

The news comes as Sydney service provider XCentral revealed to CRN its plans to co-locate in the ALC to provide managed services to financial sector clients.

ASX's Bradley told CRN that many telecommunications companies reside at the ALC, but for varying reasons. "While this Telstra case is for connectivity for EPL Express, there are other telcos here, such as BT, that provide managed services."

Telstra has been busy building up its EPL Express network, with Lempriere saying that the entry into the ALC "builds on the momentum of previous PoP placements in both the Singapore exchange and Hong Kong stock exchange" last year.

The ASX currently provides space for more than 100 domestic and international customers at the ALC, with about one-third of the rack space still available to new entrants.