Equinix Japan, a global digital infrastructure company (Representative Director and President Kuniko Ogawa, hereafter referred to as 'Equinix'), and Sakura Internet Co., Ltd., a provider of digital infrastructure services (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka City, Representative Director and President Kunhiro Tanaka, hereafter referred to as 'Sakura Internet'), have announced the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at expanding cloud business in Japan and the Asia region. This partnership aims to deploy Sakura Internet's cloud service, the GPU platform, on Equinix's Platform Equinix in order to timely support the strong demand for AI, as well as to support the company's first expansion into Asia.

Background and Outlook of the Partnership

Sakura Internet received certification from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in June 2023 for the first private "Cloud Program" supply assurance plan, and is progressing with the development to provide large-scale AI cloud services totaling 18.9 EFLOPS ※1※2 with GPUs. On the other hand, Equinix provides various ecosystems and interconnection services through more than 264 IBX data centers spread across 72 cities worldwide, accelerating companies' digital transformations.

Sakura Internet will utilize Equinix's domestic IBX data centers, network, and ecosystem, including Platform Equinix, to strengthen the GPU platform in their cloud services and will work on new business developments in the Asia region. Equinix will timely support Sakura Internet's service deployments domestically and internationally, providing customers with sustainable and seamless infrastructure and services.

※1 EFLOPS (ExaFLOPS): A unit representing the processing speed of a computer, indicating the number of floating-point operations that can be executed per second in units of 100 quintillion.
※2 Half precision, without Sparsity Acceleration

Comments from Kunihiro Tanaka, President and CEO of Sakura Internet Co., Ltd.

"We are very pleased to be able to start establishing an AI infrastructure in Asia through collaboration with Equinix. Since the early days of the Internet, Sakura Internet has focused on servers and cloud business. In the future, we believe that cloud computing will become increasingly essential as social infrastructure. Particularly regarding generated AI, we anticipate accelerated usage in the future, and we need to create an environment where Asia can continue to develop generated AI from the perspectives of 'digital deficit' and 'economic security.' To meet the growing demand for AI, Sakura Internet will continue to ensure stable supply of computing resources and contribute to the continuous development of the digital society."

Comments from Kuniko Ogawa, President of Equinix Japan.

"Supporting the accelerating domestic AI demand nowadays is considered a very important element towards the realization of the government's 'Smart Society.' We are very pleased to be able to support the introduction of AI by domestic companies and contribute, even if slightly, to solving Japan's social issues and building a sustainable future through the collaboration with Sakura Internet this time. Also, in the deployment of the first Asia base for Sakura Internet's overseas expansion, we are confident that by utilizing our Platform Equinix, we can support you with unprecedented speed and flexibility."

About Equinix

Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX) is a global digital infrastructure company. As digital leaders, advanced companies and organizations choose Equinix as a trusted platform for their success, consolidating foundational infrastructure at the software level with speed and interconnection. Equinix supports access to the right places, partners, and all possibilities that customers need to enhance their competitive advantage. By using Equinix, businesses can increase their value through global reach, agile expansion, rapid launching of digital services, and support for sustainability goals.

About Sakura Internet

Sakura Internet is an internet company founded in 1996. They provide cloud computing services such as 'Sakura Cloud,' 'Sakura Rental Server,' and 'Sakura VPS' from their self-operated domestic data centers. Under the corporate philosophy of 'Turning 'What You Want to Do' into 'Achievable',' they develop a variety of services to meet customer needs and propose DX solutions that respond to various fields.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, risks to our business and operating results related to the current inflationary environment; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; increased costs to procure power and the general volatility in the global energy market; the challenges of acquiring, operating and constructing IBX and xScale data centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix products and solutions; unanticipated costs or difficulties relating to the integration of companies we have acquired or will acquire into Equinix; a failure to receive significant revenues from customers in recently built out or acquired data centers; failure to complete any financing arrangements contemplated from time to time; competition from existing and new competitors; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds to repay new or outstanding indebtedness; the loss or decline in business from our key customers; risks related to our taxation as a REIT and other risks described from time to time in Equinix filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see recent and upcoming Equinix quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available upon request from Equinix. Equinix does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.