Data Centres Europe is the only regional event for the sector, and this year extends special coverage to eastern and central Europe.

The judges' panel deciding Awards for the forthcoming ceremony at the 4th Data Centres Europe event, taking place at the Intercontinental Park Lane, London has announced the shortlisted companies. The panel declared that the shortlisted companies in the best data centre Europe Operator award category are eBRC, COLT Telecommunications, Capgemini and Data Electronics.

The panel states that due to the high number of submissions, and emphasising the importance attached to the quality of response to questions posed during the evaluation stage, the judges also decided there should be four shortlisted companies for the Best Managed Services Provider Award: Capgemini, Attenda, easynet and Baltic Data Center UAB.

In addition the panel also declared that to the categories nominated, a special category is also to be awarded: The Data Centres Europe Green Award, which is to be given to an individual or company nominated individually by each judge, who in the opinion of the judges is making or will make an outstanding contribution to the evolution of green data centres. The companies shortlisted for this are Equinix, Smartbunker and TelecityGroup.

"Nominations were of an outstanding calibre," commented Tim Anker, vice-chairman of the Judges Panel, and founder of The Colocation Exchange. "However, the panel worked exhaustively to determine the quality of the response given by the companies competing and the shortlist reflects the results of these efforts. Data Centres Europe is the key regional event in the sector and winning companies will no doubt be able to leverage brand and marketing benefits from these prestigious industry awards."