Digital Realty Deploys Three Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Cloud On-Ramps

Rhea-AI Summary

Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR) has announced the deployment of three new Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute peering locations in Atlanta, Brussels, and Vienna. This expansion allows customers to establish dedicated connections from private IT infrastructure to Azure services through a single cross connect.

The addition brings Digital Realty's total Azure ExpressRoute cloud on-ramps to 15 locations on its PlatformDIGITAL® global data center platform. The service provides the lowest latency and most secure path to Microsoft's Azure resources through private connections, avoiding public internet exposure and reducing latency risks.

This infrastructure enhancement supports current hybrid IT solutions and prepares for future advanced private AI capabilities, including Microsoft 365 Copilot integration. Digital Realty serves as the physical meeting point for direct Azure connections and cloud-adjacent architecture optimization.

Positive

• Expansion of Azure ExpressRoute presence to 15 global locations strengthens market position
• Strategic partnership with Microsoft enhances service offering
• Infrastructure prepared for AI capabilities integration
• Improved security and latency performance for customers

Negative

• None.

High Speed, Dedicated Connection to Azure Now Available from Digital Realty's Data Center
Campuses in Atlanta, Brussels, and Vienna

DALLAS, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), a global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions, today announced new Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute peering locations in Atlanta, Brussels, and Vienna, enabling customers to establish a dedicated connection from their private IT infrastructure to Azure services via a single cross connect.

This announcement is in addition to the recent expansion of Digital Realty's global relationship with Microsoft with the deployment of Azure ExpressRoute cloud on-ramp in Dallas, and the launch of the new Azure ExpressRoute Metro Service in Amsterdam and Zurich.

With the addition of these three locations, Digital Realty now hosts 15 Azure ExpressRoute cloud on-ramps , on its global data center platform, PlatformDIGITAL®. Other locations include: Amsterdam, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dallas, Dublin, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, Madrid, Marseille, Paris, Sao Paulo, and Zurich. Customers can interconnect directly from any of these locations, or use virtual access to any Azure region globally via Digital Realty's interconnection and service orchestration platform, ServiceFabric®.

Azure ExpressRoute is the lowest latency and most highly secure path to Microsoft's Azure resources for customers, through a private connection. While in transit, customers' traffic remains on Microsoft's global network and does not interface with the public internet, which reduces the risk of bottlenecks and unexpected increases in latency. When creating a new connection, customers can choose a hosted connection provided by an Azure ExpressRoute partner, such as Digital Realty, or an Azure ExpressRoute Direct service from Microsoft.

This direct, low-latency capability is foundational for the current generation of hybrid IT solutions and prepares enterprises for future advanced private AI capabilities with technology like Microsoft 365 Copilot. Digital Realty acts as the physical meeting place where customers and partners can establish direct connections to Azure and build cloud-adjacent architectures to optimize hybrid IT solutions."

"We are pleased that Microsoft has selected PlatformDIGITAL® as the physical location for their Azure ExpressRoute cloud on-ramps in another three fast-growing markets. This showcases the global relationship between our two companies, and the value our locations bring as AI and cloud connectivity hubs," said Chris Sharp, Chief Technology Officer at Digital Realty. "We look forward to ongoing collaboration with Microsoft, to facilitate the seamless interconnection of private and public AI and IT infrastructures for our customers, as well as to solve performance challenges by deploying private infrastructure in close proximity to Azure regions."

"Our collaboration with Digital Realty allows us to provide our customers with the enterprise-grade, predictable global connectivity they need to architect and deploy their hybrid solutions with a globally consistent experience," said Jon Ormond, Principal PDM Manager at Microsoft Azure. "We are pleased to expand our Digital Realty relationship with Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute availability in Atlanta, Brussels, and Vienna. This means that customers in these locations have access to Azure services through PlatformDIGITAL®, Digital Realty's global data center platform."

Additional Resources

• Learn more about Azure ExpressRoute here
• Learn more about PlatformDIGITAL® here
• Learn more about ServiceFabric ® here
• Learn more about Digital Realty's Atlanta Data Center campus here
• Learn more about Digital Realty's Brussels Data Center campus here
• Learn more about Digital Realty's Vienna Data Center campus here

About Digital Realty
Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL®, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx®) solution methodology for powering innovation, from cloud and digital transformation to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Digital Realty gives its customers access to the connected data communities that matter to them with a global data center footprint of 300+ facilities in 50+ metros across 25+ countries on six continents. To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

For Additional Information

Media Contacts
Helen Bleasdale
Digital Realty
+1 737 267 6822
hcbleasdale@digitalrealty.com

Investor Relations
Jordan Sadler / Jim Huseby
Digital Realty
+1 415 275 5344
InvestorRelations@digitalrealty.com

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to ServiceFabric®, the company's partnership with Microsoft and Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute and expected benefits, the company's strategy and expected growth in digital transformation. For a list and description of risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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SOURCE Digital Realty

FAQ

What are the new Azure ExpressRoute locations added by Digital Realty (DLR)?

Digital Realty has added three new Azure ExpressRoute locations in Atlanta, Brussels, and Vienna, bringing their total to 15 global locations.

How does Azure ExpressRoute benefit Digital Realty (DLR) customers?

It provides the lowest latency and most secure private connection to Azure services, avoiding public internet exposure and reducing latency risks.

Where are all Digital Realty's (DLR) Azure ExpressRoute locations?

The 15 locations include Atlanta, Brussels, Vienna, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dallas, Dublin, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, Madrid, Marseille, Paris, Sao Paulo, and Zurich.

How does Digital Realty (DLR) support AI capabilities through Azure ExpressRoute?

The infrastructure supports hybrid IT solutions and enables future advanced private AI capabilities, including integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot.