Ireland’s competition watchdog has launched a full-scale investigation into Equinix’s proposed acquisition of BT’s data centre business, raising questions about the potential impact of the deal on the competitiveness of the Irish digital infrastructure market.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) confirmed on Friday that it has entered a Phase 2 review of the deal, which would see US-based Equinix take over BT’s two Dublin-based facilities in CityWest and Ballycoolin. The €59 million transaction was announced in December 2024 and formally notified to the CCPC in January.
Equinix already operates six carrier-neutral data centres across Dublin, serving clients in sectors such as cloud computing, finance, media and telecommunications. BT Datacentres Ireland offers similar services, including rack and cabling infrastructure, to both Irish and global customers.
The CCPC said it could not rule out the possibility that the merger “may substantially lessen competition in the State” and that a more detailed assessment is required. The regulator now has up to 120 working days to complete its investigation.
Under Irish merger control rules, a Phase 2 review is triggered when a Phase 1 probe does not provide sufficient certainty that a transaction will not harm competition. The CCPC will now analyse market dynamics in greater depth, request additional information from the parties, and assess the views of customers, competitors, and other stakeholders.
The Commission is accepting submissions from interested third parties until 4:30pm on May 28, 2025, via email at mergers@ccpc.ie.
No Guarantees
While a Phase 2 investigation does not necessarily signal the deal is doomed, it does mean the Commission sees potential competition risks that need to be addressed. The CCPC could eventually approve the acquisition outright, block it, or require binding commitments—such as divestments or access obligations—to mitigate any anticompetitive effects.
In a joint statement at the time of the announcement, both companies framed the deal as a natural next step in their existing partnership. Equinix said the acquisition would strengthen its Irish presence and integrate BT’s facilities into its global platform, which includes more than 240 data centres in over 70 markets. The company says its operations contribute over €35 million annually to the Irish economy through direct and indirect spending.
BT, which has been moving towards an “asset-light” model, said the deal would allow it to focus on core services in networking, cloud, and security, while continuing to serve customers in over 180 countries.
Shay Walsh, Managing Director of BT Ireland, said the transaction “ensures that customers will benefit from top-tier datacentre services nationally and globally,” while Equinix Ireland chief Peter Lantry described the acquisition as a way to bring added scale and investment to Ireland’s data centre ecosystem.
Sector Under the Spotlight
The Irish data centre market has grown rapidly over the past decade, fuelled by the country’s attractiveness as a hub for global tech firms. However, the expansion has also sparked increased scrutiny from regulators concerned about energy usage, market concentration, and long-term infrastructure resilience.
Equinix’s dominant footprint in Dublin means the merger could significantly reshape the competitive landscape. Industry observers say the outcome of the CCPC’s investigation may set important precedents for future consolidation in the sector.
For now, the deal remains in limbo as the watchdog deepens its probe. Neither the CCPC nor the merging parties are providing further comment while the process is ongoing.
Case Reference: M/25/003 – Equinix (Ireland) / BT Datacentres Ireland
Current Status: Phase 2 Investigation – Active
Public Submissions Deadline: May 28, 2025, 4:30pm
Contact: mergers@ccpc.ie
