Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) launched the Hosting Services Founding Members Programme today(Monday), which is designed to allow select hosting ecosystem service providers to participate in the early set-up of the hosting ecosystem at HKEx’s Next Generation Data Centre (NGDC).  Those companies which enrol in the Founding Members Programme will be invited to participate in joint marketing efforts with HKEx.

"The Founding Members Programme is a unique opportunity for Information Vendors, financial technology vendors, and telecommunications providers to join hands with us at an early stage ahead of the launch of our Data Centre later in the year," said HKEx Head of Relationship Management Ryan Wuebbels.  "It also marks the first time service providers will be able to co-market their services with HKEx."

All financial technology vendors who wish to apply to become Founding Members will be considered.  The Programme will continue until Hosting Services are launched later this year.

HKEx will offer Hosting Services at its NGDC in Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate.  HKEx aims to build an ecosystem in which HKEx systems, Exchange Participants (EPs), Information Vendors, technology vendors and telecommunication providers are members.  The ecosystem approach allows EPs to subscribe to services offered by other ecosystem members in a cost effective manner.

"We plan to announce detailed service offerings and pricing by end of the first quarter and will invite interested users to apply for the services," said HKEx Head of Hosting Services Jonathan Leung.  "Our Hosting Services team is able to provide assistance to potential users in their infrastructure planning so that they can obtain the highest value from our services."

Access to the securities market (Main Board and GEM, the Growth Enterprise Market) is planned to be rolled out in the fourth quarter of 2012 with the derivatives market coming on line in the second quarter of 2013 and clearing and settlement systems live in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Up to 1,200 cabinets of server space at an average power allocation of 6kW per cabinet will be made available in phased releases.

HKEx plans to market its Hosting Services to potential users beginning in March.  In addition to the Founding Members Programme, HKEx will open a kiosk in the Exchange Exhibition Hall to provide more information about the NGDC.  The kiosk will feature an animated, birds-eye view of the new facility and detailed information on the services provided, including capacity, power and cross-connectivity.  Hosting ecosystem service providers that have enrolled in the Founding Members Programme will also be able to promote their services at the kiosk.

More information on HKEx’s Hosting Services is available on the HKEx website.

HKEx Hosting Services Key Points:

• HKEx Hosting Services will be provided at the NGDC, which will be built to meet the highest level of resilience, targeting top-level Tier 4 data centre requirements, and the LEED Gold standard, which is part of an internationally recognised green building certification system.
   
• Ecosystem approach allows EPs to subscribe to services offered by Information Vendors, technology vendors and connectivity providers in a cost effective manner.
   
• HKEx Hosting Services are offered from a carrier-neutral facility which enables HKEx to become a hub for global connectivity.
   
• Low latency connection to HKEx markets will allow a wider range of trading strategies.

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