Digital Realty Introduces Digital Open Internet Exchange Environment

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR), a leading global provider of data center solutions, today announced the launch of Digital Open Internet Exchange, a global, first of its kind in North America, open-interconnect and peering environment that aims to accommodate the Internet community's demand for more independent and cost-effective exchange options. The initiative is expected to strengthen the company's global ecosystem.

"Digital Open Internet Exchange is a game-changer for the entire IP and networking community, and for our customers," said Michael Foust, Chief Executive Officer at Digital Realty. "By creating a truly open Internet exchange environment, we are supporting the community's desire for neutral exchanges that are more efficient and cost-effective than those available today. The end result for our customers will be immediate access to enhanced interconnectivity and Internet peering capabilities across the more than 30 markets in our global portfolio."

A critical component of the Digital Realty Ecosystem, Digital Open Internet Exchange provides the Internet community with the necessary data center infrastructure to support its global initiatives around developing truly neutral and member-governed Internet exchanges, a model that has proven successful across Europe. The company is expected to operate as an endorsed data center partner with the governing bodies and endorsed IXPs (internet exchange providers) of Internet exchanges in each of the major exchange locations in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. The initial rollout for Digital Open Internet Exchange will take place in the New York metro area and Northern Virginia, followed by deployment in several other U.S. markets.

"We understand that the costs and limitations associated with connecting to the existing Internet exchanges in the U.S., as well as peer-to-peer interconnecting, are simply too high." said John Sarkis, Vice President of Connectivity and Carrier Operations at Digital Realty. "This initiative establishes the optimal exchange environment, making it possible for Internet service providers (ISPs), content delivery networks (CDNs) and content producers to interconnect with their peers as well as to other exchanges from our data centers at a significantly lower cost than they pay today, while also improving the quality of service they can provide to customers. By empowering the community to take control of the way it operates the exchanges, we will enable organizations within business ecosystems—like-minded and vertical industries—to connect with each other in and across all of Digital Realty's 120-plus global locations."

The Digital Realty Ecosystem provides customers with a neutral, efficient and connectivity-rich environment to connect with carriers, business partners and service providers. It also provides an underlying, redundant infrastructure for carriers and service providers to deliver their entire portfolio of products and services to customers in any Digital Realty data center, without capital-intensive deployment costs.

About Digital Realty
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. focuses on delivering customer driven data center solutions by providing secure, reliable and cost effective facilities that meet each customer's unique data center needs. Digital Realty's customers include domestic and international companies across multiple industry verticals ranging from information technology and Internet enterprises, to manufacturing and financial services. Digital Realty's 127 properties, including three properties held as investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, comprise approximately 23.7 million square feet as of June 30, 2013, including 2.8 million square feet of space held for development. Digital Realty's portfolio is located in 32 markets throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Additional information about Digital Realty is included in the Company Overview, which is available on the Investors page of Digital Realty's website at www.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 Digital Open Internet Exchange and Digital Realty Ecosystem; expected impact of Digital Open Internet Exchange, including cost savings and improved quality of service; and expected deployment of Digital Open Internet Exchange. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the following: the impact of the recent deterioration in global economic, credit and market conditions, including the downgrade of the U.S. government's credit rating; current local economic conditions in our geographic markets; decreases in information technology spending, including as a result of economic slowdowns or recession; adverse economic or real estate developments in our industry or the industry sectors that we sell to (including risks relating to decreasing real estate valuations and impairment charges); our dependence upon significant tenants; bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant or a significant number of smaller tenants; defaults on or non-renewal of leases by tenants; our failure to obtain necessary debt and equity financing; increased interest rates and operating costs; risks associated with using debt to fund our business activities, including re-financing and interest rate risks, our failure to repay debt when due, adverse changes in our credit ratings or our breach of covenants or other terms contained in our loan facilities and agreements; financial market fluctuations; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; our inability to manage our growth effectively; difficulty acquiring or operating properties in foreign jurisdictions; our failure to successfully integrate and operate acquired or developed properties or businesses; the suitability of our properties and data center infrastructure, delays or disruptions in connectivity, failure of our physical infrastructure or services or availability of power; risks related to joint venture investments, including as a result of our lack of control of such investments; delays or unexpected costs in development of properties; decreased rental rates or increased vacancy rates; increased competition or available supply of data center space; our inability to successfully develop and lease new properties and space held for development; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; our inability to acquire off-market properties; our inability to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to reporting companies; our failure to maintain our status as a REIT; possible adverse changes to tax laws; restrictions on our ability to engage in certain business activities; environmental uncertainties and risks related to natural disasters; losses in excess of our insurance coverage; changes in foreign laws and regulations, including those related to taxation and real estate ownership and operation; and changes in local, state and federal regulatory requirements, including changes in real estate and zoning laws and increases in real property tax rates.  For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013.  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.

SOURCE Digital Realty Trust, Inc.