The Dallas IBX project represents "a significant investment," an Equinix spokeswoman tells GlobeSt.com. The structure is opening with five major tenants--InterNAP Services Corp., Level 3 Communications Inc., NorthPoint Communications, Qwest Communications International and WorldCom Inc.--and there's more to come, says the spokeswoman. The structure is opening with 30% of the space leased, GlobeSt.com has been told.

"The Dallas area has become an increasingly important technology hub for North America," says Peter Van Camp, CEO for the Mountain View, CA-based operation. The centers provide a secure home for the Internet where content providers, ASPs and e-commerce companies have the ability to interconnect with a choice of best-in-class carriers, ISPs, and site and performance management companies. Meanwhile, tenants also can deliver content faster, access multiple networks, eliminate local loop charges, increase transaction-based revenues and increase customer satisfaction via a higher quality customer web experience. Equinix says tenants can lower training and staffing needs while servicing larger customer bases.

The centers contain mission-critical hardware, 24/7 security guards, biometric hand-geometry scanners on all doors and cages, disaster protection and tightly controlled customer access. Equinix's telecommunications and technical support staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.