Exclusive: EonFibre expands network in New Zealand with DC220 partnership

EonFibre, the newly independent fibre business carved out of One New Zealand, has marked its first year by forging a strategic partnership with Datacentre220, one of the country's most interconnected data centres.

"EonFibre is the fibre business carved out of One New Zealand. It is the second-largest network in New Zealand, with over 11,000 kilometres of fibre. We launched in October last year," said Richard Mooney, CEO, EonFibre.

Mooney said separating the fibre network from an integrated telco allows the business to focus on high-capacity connectivity. "We believed the business would be more successful independently, fully focused on fibre," he added.

The expansion is driven by growing demand for enterprise-grade connectivity, particularly from into data centres and cloud services. "We have observed growth in bandwidth infrastructure markets internationally, driven by the proliferation of data centres," said Mooney.

Data centre hub

DC220, located at 220 Queen Street in Auckland, is one of New Zealand's key interconnect hubs. Its dense network of connections and proximity to cloud on-ramps made it a natural partner for EonFibre.

"The location and network density at 220 make it New Zealand's primary interconnect hub. It is close to cloud on-ramps, all major telcos, and PoPs, making it ideal for connecting our customers," said Mooney.

Ross Delaney, CEO, DC220, described the partnership as complementary. "EonFibre offers another top-tier fibre partnership at DC220. With their resilient network, we can provide customers even more confidence in their connectivity," he said.

The collaboration also aligns with DC220's strategy to provide customers with multiple connectivity options. "Being a partner data centre allows us to help customers connect across major data centres in New Zealand efficiently, offering a commercial alternative to other carriers," Delaney added.

Extensive coverage

EonFibre operates a business-focused network connecting more than 30 data centres and major exchanges across New Zealand. Mooney said this coverage differentiates the company in the data centre connectivity market.

"We provide connectivity to over 30 data centres and major exchanges, offering what we believe is the best data centre coverage in the country," said Mooney.

The network is built for enterprise-grade performance, offering low-latency, high-capacity, and resilient connections. "Our network has been designed for business. We provide dedicated, point-to-point connectivity with the latest technology to meet high capacity requirements," said Mooney.

Neutrality is another key factor. "Separating EonFibre allows us to serve all customers equally. Whether it is One New Zealand or other telecommunication providers, we are neutral," he said.

DC Direct product

The partnership coincides with the launch of EonFibre's DC Direct product, providing businesses with direct fibre connections into data centres.

"DC Direct offers greater capacity, lower latency, resiliency and connectivity options ranging from dark fibre to Ethernet and wavelength services. Customers gain access to a carrier-neutral network fully interconnected with other major data centres," said Mooney.

The product is designed to scale as new data centres come online. "As additional data centres are established, we will expand our connections, creating a data centre network effect that benefits all customers," he said.

Market impact

Mooney highlighted New Zealand's potential as a digital infrastructure hub, citing renewable energy, stable conditions, and growing demand for cloud and AI services.

"New Zealand has characteristics that make it ideal for data centres: stable conditions, strong connectivity, cooler climate, and a high proportion of renewable energy," he said.

For DC220, the partnership expands options for clients. "This collaboration increases resilience and choice for local and international customers, allowing data to move more efficiently across the country," said Delaney.

The move also positions New Zealand to attract further data centre investment and support enterprise growth. "Securing customers on DC Direct at 220 Queen Street and scaling the network reinforces New Zealand as an attractive location for data centre and AI investment," said Mooney.

What's ahead?

Both companies plan to extend the partnership as the market grows.

Mooney said new data centres and subsea connections will be added to the network to increase capacity and geographic reach.

"Every new data centre we connect expands the addressable market for our customers. This network effect is central to our strategy," he said.

Delaney added that EonFibre's growth and innovation are set to benefit the wider New Zealand market. "EonFibre is reshaping how connectivity works in the country, offering a new way to link data centres and businesses," he said.