Digital Realty establishes ‘Express Route’ to Belgian Microsoft Azure region

Microsoft adds an Azure express route peering location in Brussels, choosing Digital Realty’s Campus. Customers get direct access to the soon-to-open Belgian Azure region.

Microsoft Announces a Collaboration with Digital Realty for the Upcoming Belgian Azure Region. Digital Realty’s Data Center in Brussels Will Be Equipped with an Azure ExpressRoute Peering Location. This Allows Belgian Organizations to Set Up a Local Private Connection to the Azure Cloud.

Express Route to Azure

The Collaboration Between Microsoft and Digital Realty Offers Organizations in Belgium the Opportunity to Use Azure Services via a Direct Connection Without Going Through the Public Internet. Azure ExpressRoute Provides a Stable and Secure Network Connection with Low Latency. Customers Can Use Colocation Options on the Brussels Campus, Such as Private Racks or Cages, to Place Their Infrastructure Close to the Cloud.

With This Addition, Brussels Becomes the Fifteenth Location Worldwide Where Digital Realty Establishes an Azure ExpressRoute. Other Cities Include Amsterdam and Paris. Through Digital Realty’s ServiceFabric Platform, Customers Can Also Gain Virtual Access to All Azure Regions Worldwide from These Locations.

Support for Hybrid Cloud Environments

The Presence of a First Azure ExpressRoute in Belgium Is Aimed at Organizations Wanting to Set Up Hybrid Cloud Environments. Digital Realty Operates Three Data Centers in Brussels, Serving About 300 Customers. The Recently Opened BRU4 Data Center Offers More Than 3 Megawatts of Capacity.

Thanks to This New Connectivity, Companies Can More Easily Comply with Local Requirements Regarding Performance and Data Sovereignty. This Is Particularly Relevant for Sectors Such as Government and Financial Institutions, Which Often Have Specific Requirements in Terms of Data Management and Privacy.

Microsoft Emphasizes That the Expansion of the Collaboration with Digital Realty Contributes to a Consistent Global Experience for Customers. The Solution Supports Applications Such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, Among Others. With This Development, Digital Realty Positions Itself as a Physical Hub for Cloud Connectivity in Belgium, While Microsoft Gives Its Global Cloud Infrastructure a Local Touch.

Microsoft’s Belgian Data Centers Are Still Under Construction but Will Open Soon. Microsoft Expects the Azure Region to Be Operational from Autumn. In 2022, Our Editorial Team Already Received a Virtual Tour.