Equinix has inaugurated its latest data center, MD5, in the Alcobendas area of Madrid, Spain, solidifying the city’s role as a major digital hub in Southern Europe. The official ceremony was attended by notable figures including Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid; Miguel López-Valverde, Regional Minister for Digitalization; Rocío Albert, Regional Minister for the Economy; and Rocío García-Alcántara, the Mayor of Alcobendas. This new facility represents a significant investment of €460 million ($534 million) into the region, further bolstering Madrid’s prominence in the digital infrastructure sector.
The MD5 facility adds 4,400 square meters (47,360 square feet) of colocation space to Equinix’s existing network in Madrid. During the event, Valentín Pinuaga, managing director of Equinix Spain, emphasized the critical role of infrastructure in enabling artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainability, Pinuaga stated, "Today we talk a lot about Artificial Intelligence, but there is a less visible - and probably more important - conversation: what is needed for that AI to truly function, at scale and securely. And this is where infrastructure comes into play. We have committed to a cooling model that allows us to operate without water consumption, a step toward a new generation of infrastructure for more efficient and responsible AI."
The waterless cooling model adopted at MD5 represents a forward-thinking approach to reducing environmental impact while meeting the demands of emerging technologies such as AI.
Equinix currently operates three International Business Exchange (IBX) facilities - MD1, MD2, and MD6 - in Madrid, alongside a hyperscale MD3x facility under its xScale brand. The company’s expansion in Spain began in 2017 with the acquisition of local operator Itconic, a deal worth €215 million ($259 million at the time). This strategic move included facilities in Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville, though Equinix no longer operates the Seville location.
Rocío García-Alcántara, Mayor of Alcobendas, highlighted the municipality’s advantages as a technology investment destination, calling it "a highly competitive hub." She added, "Alcobendas has become a hub for digital innovation, already home to six large data centers. We are promoting a special streamlining plan that allows for the establishment of data centers on commercial and industrial plots."
The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, emphasized the region’s competitiveness and rapid growth in the data center sector. She stated, "It is now official that Equinix is the largest operator in the Community of Madrid. It has made us the technology hub of Southern Europe with 14 data centers in operation and 15 under construction." She also noted that the region is competing successfully against traditional European markets such as Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, and Paris, with a future investment pipeline of over 40 data centers and a combined capacity exceeding 3,100 megawatts.
Díaz Ayuso also underlined the role of government initiatives in fostering digital development. She highlighted efforts such as the Office for the Promotion of Data Centers and the Department of Digitalization, which focus on ensuring cybersecurity and optimizing AI applications in public services. These initiatives aim to position Madrid as a leader in digital transformation and innovation.
The launch of the MD5 data center marks another milestone in Madrid’s evolution as a leading digital and interconnection hub in Europe, reflecting both public and private sector commitment to technological advancement and sustainability.
