Equinix has started work on a new $92 million data center in Dublin, Ireland.

The colo giant’s DB7x facility will be located in the Blanchardstown area, close to Equinix’s existing data centers in the Irish capital.

According to Equinix, it is spending $78m building out high-performance data center infrastructure for AI workloads, and $14m creating space for its IBX retail offering, aimed at retail enterprise clients. The data center will offer 1,320 sqm (14,230 sq ft) of floor space.

Retail capacity at the data center is scheduled to be available to enterprises from early 2028. The data center will use power already allocated and available at the site, meaning it will not put further strain on Ireland’s grid, Equinix said.

Peter Lantry, managing director of Equinix Ireland, said: “This is an exciting development for Equinix’s operations in Ireland, as we celebrate 10 years of being in Ireland, investing in its infrastructure and economy. This announcement strongly supports the government’s recently published Digital and AI Strategy, which outlines a path for keeping Ireland at the forefront of global digital innovation. It also reaffirms our commitment to Ireland and its importance to businesses worldwide.

“This is positive news for the Irish economy, and we would like to thank the IDA Ireland (Ireland’s foreign direct investment agency) for their continued support and collaboration to enable our sustainable growth in Ireland. By expanding colocation capacity in Dublin, we will enable domestic and international enterprises to scale, innovate, and connect across Equinix’s global digital infrastructure platform with ease.”

Equinix has eight operational data centers in Dublin. In December 2024, the company announced it was acquiring two data centers in the city from BT.

However, it has run into difficulties trying to win planning approval for another site, the gas-powered DB8, which was rejected by planners in 2023. Equinix lost an appeal against the decision.

Anne-Marie Tierney Le Roux, head of technology, IDA Ireland, said: “Today’s announcement is a significant boost to Ireland’s digital infrastructure. Equinix’s continued investment demonstrates strong confidence in Ireland as a location for high-performance, sustainable data center operations.

“This new facility will enhance the country’s connectivity, support the growth of AI and cloud services, and further strengthen Ireland’s position as a leading hub for digital innovation and international investment.”