The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) of Ireland has announced a full Phase 2 investigation into Equinix's proposed acquisition of BT Datacentres Ireland. This decision follows a preliminary examination that raised concerns about the potential effects of the merger on competition within the country.

Equinix currently operates six data centres in Dublin, catering to various sectors including cloud services, IT, finance, and media. BT Datacentres Ireland also has a presence in Dublin with two data centres located in CityWest and Ballycoolin. The CCPC's role under competition law is to evaluate mergers and acquisitions to prevent any detrimental impact on competition, which includes analyzing how such transactions could affect consumer prices, choices, quality, and innovation.

The proposed acquisition was officially notified to the CCPC on January 10, 2025. The commission's decision to conduct a full investigation indicates that there are significant concerns regarding whether the merger could substantially lessen competition in the Irish market. The CCPC has invited public submissions regarding the deal, allowing stakeholders to express their views by emailing mergers@ccpc.ie before the deadline of May 28, 2025.

As the investigation is still in progress, the CCPC has stated that it cannot provide further details at this time, emphasizing the importance of a thorough review to ensure fair competition in the sector.