Q9 Networks

About Q9 Networks

Q9 Networks, founded in 1995 as Myna Communications, is a Canadian provider of outsourced data center infrastructure. The company rebranded to Q9 Networks in 2000. Its business model centers on providing outsourced data center solutions for organizations with mission-critical IT operations. Services include colocation, bandwidth, dedicated servers, firewalls, and managed network security. The company's history is marked by several significant ownership changes. In 2008, U.S. private equity firm ABRY Partners acquired the publicly-traded company for approximately $361 million. A major transaction occurred in 2012 when an investor consortium, including BCE Inc. (Bell), Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Providence Equity Partners, and Madison Dearborn Partners, acquired Q9 for $1.1 billion. Bell's initial investment was $180 million for a minority stake. The existing management team, including CEO Osama Arafat and President Paul Sharpe, continued to operate the company as a stand-alone entity. In 2016, BCE Inc. moved to acquire the remaining shares from its partners for approximately $675 million, taking full ownership of Q9 Networks. Subsequently, the Q9 assets were integrated with Bell Business Markets' data center operations. The final chapter in Q9's ownership history came in 2020, when Equinix, a global digital infrastructure company, acquired 13 data centers and their operations from Bell for US$780 million (CA$1.041 billion). This acquisition included over 600 customers and approximately 1.2 million gross square feet of data center space, effectively absorbing the former Q9 facilities into Equinix's global platform. As part of the deal, Bell and Equinix formed a strategic partnership to deliver joint offers in Canada and globally.