United Kingdom Data Center Market SIZE & SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS & FORECASTS UP TO 2030

The United Kingdom Data Center Market is segmented by Hotspot (London), by Data Center Size (Large, Massive, Medium, Mega, Small), by Tier Type (Tier 1 and 2, Tier 3, Tier 4) and by Absorption (Non-Utilized, Utilized). Market Volume in Megawatt (MW) is presented. Key Data Points observed include IT load capacity for existing and upcoming data centers, current and upcoming hotspots, average mobile data consumption, volume of fiber cable connectivity in KM, existing and upcoming submarine cables, rack space utilization, and number of data centers by tier.

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United Kingdom Data Center Market SIZE & SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS & FORECASTS UP TO 2030

United Kingdom Data Center Market Size

United Kingdom Data Center Market Summary
Study Period 2018 - 2030
Base Year For Estimation 2024
Forecast Data Period 2025 - 2030
Market Volume (2025) 2.59 Thousand MW
Market Volume (2030) 4.75 Thousand MW
CAGR 12.88 %
Market Concentration Low

Major Players

United Kingdom Data Center Market Major Players

*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

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United Kingdom Data Center Market Analysis

The United Kingdom Data Center Market size is estimated at 2.59 thousand MW in 2025, and is expected to reach 4.75 thousand MW by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 12.88%. Further, the market is expected to generate colocation revenue of USD 2,661 Million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 6,799.5 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 20.64% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

The United Kingdom's data center market continues to evolve rapidly, driven by robust digital infrastructure development and increasing enterprise adoption of cloud data center services. As of 2022, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) account for 99.9% of the UK business population, forming a crucial customer base for data center services. The market is witnessing significant investment from major players, exemplified by Amazon Web Services' announcement in 2023 to invest £1.8 billion in UK data center infrastructure over the next two years. This investment trend is further reinforced by Vantage Data Centers' entry into London with a new £500 million campus development, demonstrating strong market confidence.


The market landscape is characterized by a strong emphasis on infrastructure reliability and certification standards. As of 2022, the country hosts 148 Tier 3 data centers with 28 additional facilities under construction, highlighting the industry's focus on maintaining high operational standards. These facilities are increasingly adopting sustainable practices and advanced cooling technologies to improve energy efficiency. The trend toward higher tier certifications is particularly evident in London, which secured more than 59% of all digital tech Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) recorded in the United Kingdom in 2023.


The public sector's digital transformation is creating substantial demand for data center services. The government's data.gov.uk platform currently houses over 30,000 datasets, reflecting the growing need for robust data storage and processing capabilities in the public sector. The government has outlined ambitious plans to invest £22 billion in tech R&D by 2026-27, which is expected to drive further demand for data center services. This commitment to digital transformation is complemented by the implementation of comprehensive data protection regulations and security standards.


The market is experiencing a significant shift toward sustainable and energy-efficient operations. Full fiber coverage has reached 33% of UK homes as of early 2022, enabling more efficient data transmission and processing capabilities. The adoption of digital services continues to accelerate, with approximately 85% of UK residents actively engaging in online shopping as of 2022, driving demand for reliable data center infrastructure. This digital transformation is supported by the increasing adoption of cloud services across various sectors, particularly in financial services, e-commerce, and digital media, necessitating more sophisticated data center solutions.

Segment Analysis: Data Center Size

Massive Segment in UK Data Center Market

The massive data center segment dominates the UK market, accounting for approximately 48% of the data center market share in 2024. With a total IT load capacity of around 1,048 MW, massive data centers are primarily concentrated in London, with 31 facilities operated by major providers including Digital Realty Trust Inc., Equinix Inc., Virtus Data Centers Properties Ltd, and CyrusOne Inc. These facilities offer significant advantages in terms of scale and operational efficiency. The segment's prominence is driven by increasing demand from hyperscale cloud providers and large enterprises requiring substantial computing resources. London's Slough region remains a key location for massive data center construction due to its strategic importance as a business hub, hosting the highest concentration of UK headquarters of global companies outside central London.

Market Analysis of United Kingdom Data Center Market: Chart for Data Center Size

Mega Segment in UK Data Center Market

The mega data center segment is experiencing rapid expansion in the UK market, projected to grow at approximately 26% annually from 2024 to 2029. This exceptional growth is driven by increasing demand from hyperscale-based facilities and the ongoing deployment of 5G networks across the country. Major developments include significant construction projects in key locations such as London, Cardiff, and Didcot. The segment's growth is further supported by numerous inland internet exchange points and over 50 underwater cables connecting the UK to important international markets. Future submarine cables, including 2Africa, Amitie, BT North Sea, Grace Hopper, and Scotland-Northern Ireland connections, are expected to enhance connectivity infrastructure, driving continued expansion of mega data centers across the region.

Remaining Segments in Data Center Size Market

The large, medium, and small data center segments each serve distinct market needs in the UK's data center landscape. Large data centers cater to established enterprises requiring substantial but not massive computing resources, with a significant presence across London and regional hubs. Medium data centers primarily serve growing businesses and regional markets, with facilities strategically located outside London in developing tech hubs like Edinburgh, Newcastle, and other emerging digital corridors. Small data centers, while representing a modest portion of the market, play a crucial role in serving local businesses and specific industry niches, particularly in emerging tech towns and developing regions of the United Kingdom.

Segment Analysis: Tier Type

Tier 3 Segment in UK Data Center Market

Tier 3 data centers dominate the United Kingdom data center market, accounting for approximately 98% of the total IT load capacity in 2024. These facilities are highly preferred due to their comprehensive redundancy capabilities and significant improvement in availability, designed to have no more than 1.6 hours of unplanned downtime per annum. London hosts the maximum number of Tier 3 data centers in the country, with a market share of 79%, under which Slough and Greater London comprise the major share. Major providers like Digital Realty Trust Inc., Virtus Data Center, and Equinix Inc. comprise significant market shares of around 15%, 12%, and 11% respectively, each having multiple facilities. The strong preference for Tier 3 facilities is driven by the UK's robust small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, which accounts for 99.9% of the business population, as these businesses typically require the superior redundancy protections offered by Tier 3 standards.

Tier 4 Segment in UK Data Center Market

The Tier 4 data center segment is experiencing remarkable growth in the UK data center market, projected to grow at approximately 48% during 2024-2029. This substantial growth is primarily driven by increasing demand from hyperscale colocation services by major end users in the cloud and telecom sectors. The UK government's G-Cloud program is actively transforming how public sector organizations purchase information and communications technology, further fueling the demand for Tier 4 data center facilities. Players such as Equinix Inc. and NTT Ltd are planning to construct Tier 4 facilities, recognizing the growing need for fault-tolerant functionality and higher uptime guarantees. The segment's growth is also supported by the increasing adoption of computing solutions and the digital transformation initiatives across various sectors in the United Kingdom.

Remaining Segments in Tier Type

The Tier 1 data centers and Tier 2 data centers represent the basic infrastructure level in the UK market, characterized by single path power and cooling systems. These facilities are the least preferred due to their limited redundancy capabilities and relatively higher annual downtime of up to 28.8 hours. While they continue to serve specific market niches, particularly for organizations with less critical workloads or budget constraints, their role is diminishing as businesses increasingly prioritize higher reliability and uptime guarantees. The growth in this segment is primarily limited to facility providers serving SMEs with minimal IT loads at lower costs, while most new investments are directed towards higher tier facilities.

Segment Analysis: Absorption

Utilized Segment in UK Data Center Market

The utilized segment dominates the UK data center market, accounting for approximately 80% of the total IT load capacity in 2024. This significant data center market share is driven by the increasing adoption of hyperscale colocation services and the growing demand from various end-user industries, including cloud, telecom, and BFSI sectors. The segment is experiencing robust growth and is expected to maintain its leading position, with a projected growth rate of nearly 11% during 2024-2029. This growth is primarily attributed to the rising digitalization across industries, increasing data traffic volume, and the expanding presence of major cloud service providers in the region. The estimated utilization is particularly high for data centers located in major hotspots such as East and West London, where the occupancy rate exceeds 70%. The segment's growth is further supported by the United Kingdom's position as the fourth-largest market for e-commerce, with over 85% of UK residents shopping online, generating substantial data storage and processing requirements.

Non-Utilized Segment in UK Data Center Market

The non-utilized segment represents the available capacity in UK data centers that remains unoccupied or reserved for future expansion. This segment plays a crucial role in maintaining operational flexibility and accommodating future growth requirements. The utilization rates vary significantly by location, with data centers in secondary markets such as Surrey, Harlow, and Crawley showing lower occupancy rates of around 50% to 55%. This strategic capacity management allows data center operators to maintain service quality while preparing for future demand. The segment is influenced by factors such as geographical diversification of business, energy costs, and regional development initiatives. The availability of non-utilized capacity also enables data center operators to respond quickly to sudden increases in demand, particularly from hyperscale clients who may require rapid deployment capabilities. This segment is particularly important in emerging data center locations outside London, where operators maintain additional capacity to attract new clients and support regional digital transformation initiatives.

United Kingdom Data Center Industry Overview

Top Companies in United Kingdom Data Center Market

The data center market in the United Kingdom is characterized by continuous innovation in infrastructure design, cooling technologies, and power management solutions. Data center companies in the UK are increasingly focusing on sustainable practices, with many operators transitioning to renewable energy sources and implementing energy-efficient cooling systems. Strategic expansion moves are primarily concentrated in key metropolitan areas like London, Manchester, and Cardiff, with companies acquiring land parcels for future development. Operational agility is demonstrated through the adoption of modular construction approaches, allowing for rapid scalability and customization based on client demands. The market also witnesses significant investment in connectivity infrastructure, with providers establishing partnerships with major cloud platforms and telecom operators to enhance their data center services offerings. Companies are also emphasizing security certifications and compliance standards to meet growing regulatory requirements and client expectations.

Market Dominated by Global Infrastructure Specialists

The United Kingdom data center market structure is characterized by a mix of global infrastructure providers and specialized colocation operators, with international players holding dominant positions. The market demonstrates moderate consolidation, with major global operators controlling significant market share through their extensive facility networks and established client relationships. These dominant players leverage their international expertise and financial resources to maintain competitive advantages in technology implementation and service delivery. The market also includes several specialized regional operators who compete through localized knowledge and customized data center solutions for specific industry verticals.


The market has witnessed significant merger and acquisition activity, driven by the need to expand geographical presence and enhance technological capabilities. Global operators are actively acquiring regional players to strengthen their market position and gain access to strategic locations and established client bases. Private equity firms and infrastructure funds are showing increased interest in the sector, leading to substantial investments in both existing facilities and new developments. This consolidation trend is expected to continue as operators seek economies of scale and broader service portfolios to meet evolving client demands.

Innovation and Sustainability Drive Future Success

For incumbent operators to maintain and expand their market share, focus must be placed on developing comprehensive sustainability initiatives and implementing advanced technologies for operational efficiency. Success factors include the ability to offer flexible colocation solutions that can accommodate varying power densities and support diverse workload requirements. Providers must also strengthen their interconnection capabilities and expand their ecosystem of cloud and network providers. Building strong relationships with local authorities and power utilities will become increasingly crucial for securing resources and permits for facility expansion.


Market contenders can gain ground by focusing on underserved regions and specialized market segments, particularly in emerging technology hubs outside London. Success will depend on developing innovative cooling solutions and power management systems that address the growing concerns about energy efficiency and environmental impact. The regulatory landscape, particularly regarding data sovereignty and environmental standards, will significantly influence market dynamics. Providers must also consider the increasing demand for edge computing facilities and develop strategies to serve distributed computing requirements while maintaining operational efficiency and service quality. Data center management practices will be crucial in achieving these goals.

United Kingdom Data Center Market Leaders

  1. Digital Realty Trust Inc.

  2. Equinix Inc.

  3. NTT Ltd

  4. Rackspace Technology Inc.

  5. Virtus Data Centres Properties Ltd (STT GDC)

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
United Kingdom Data Center Market Concentration
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United Kingdom Data Center Market News

  • October 2022: CyrusOne announced that it had proposed a new data center in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. The site will have 10 data halls with a capacity of around 90 MW, and the project will include a new on-site substation.
  • August 2022: Colt announced plans to build a new data center in Hayes, West London, which would more than triple its existing footprint in the UK capital. It will deliver a new purpose-built facility of 50 MW in the 2.1-hectare data center campus known as 'London 4.’
  • March 2022: Kao Data announced plans for a second building for its Harlow campus in the United Kingdom. The company stated that construction was underway on its second 10 MW facility outside London.

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We provide a complimentary and exhaustive set of data points on the country and regional level metrics that present the fundamental structure of the industry. Presented in the form of 50+ free charts, the sections cover difficult to find data on various countries on smartphone users, data traffic per smartphone, mobile and broadband data speed, fiber connectivity network, and submarine cables.

United Kingdom Data Center Market
United Kingdom Data Center Market
United Kingdom Data Center Market
United Kingdom Data Center Market

United Kingdom Data Center Market Report - Table of Contents

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & KEY FINDINGS

2. REPORT OFFERS

3. INTRODUCTION

  • 3.1 Study Assumptions & Market Definition
  • 3.2 Scope of the Study​
  • 3.3 Research Methodology

4. MARKET OUTLOOK

  • 4.1 It Load Capacity
  • 4.2 Raised Floor Space
  • 4.3 Colocation Revenue
  • 4.4 Installed Racks
  • 4.5 Rack Space Utilization
  • 4.6 Submarine Cable

5. Key Industry Trends

  • 5.1 Smartphone Users
  • 5.2 Data Traffic Per Smartphone
  • 5.3 Mobile Data Speed
  • 5.4 Broadband Data Speed
  • 5.5 Fiber Connectivity Network
  • 5.6 Regulatory Framework
    • 5.6.1 United Kingdom
  • 5.7 Value Chain & Distribution Channel Analysis

6. MARKET SEGMENTATION (INCLUDES MARKET SIZE IN VOLUME, FORECASTS UP TO 2030 AND ANALYSIS OF GROWTH PROSPECTS)

  • 6.1 Hotspot
    • 6.1.1 London
    • 6.1.2 Rest of United Kingdom
  • 6.2 Data Center Size
    • 6.2.1 Large
    • 6.2.2 Massive
    • 6.2.3 Medium
    • 6.2.4 Mega
    • 6.2.5 Small
  • 6.3 Tier Type
    • 6.3.1 Tier 1 and 2
    • 6.3.2 Tier 3
    • 6.3.3 Tier 4
  • 6.4 Absorption
    • 6.4.1 Non-Utilized
    • 6.4.2 Utilized
    • 6.4.2.1 By Colocation Type
    • 6.4.2.1.1 Hyperscale
    • 6.4.2.1.2 Retail
    • 6.4.2.1.3 Wholesale
    • 6.4.2.2 By End User
    • 6.4.2.2.1 BFSI
    • 6.4.2.2.2 Cloud
    • 6.4.2.2.3 E-Commerce
    • 6.4.2.2.4 Government
    • 6.4.2.2.5 Manufacturing
    • 6.4.2.2.6 Media & Entertainment
    • 6.4.2.2.7 Telecom
    • 6.4.2.2.8 Other End User

7. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 7.1 Market Share Analysis
  • 7.2 Company Landscape
  • 7.3 Company Profiles (includes Global Level Overview, Market Level Overview, Core Business Segments, Financials, Headcount, Key Information, Market Rank, Market Share, Products and Services, and Analysis of Recent Developments).
    • 7.3.1 Colt Technology Services
    • 7.3.2 CyrusOne Inc.
    • 7.3.3 Digital Realty Trust Inc.
    • 7.3.4 Equinix Inc.
    • 7.3.5 Global Switch Holdings Limited
    • 7.3.6 Global Technical Realty SARL
    • 7.3.7 Kao Data Ltd
    • 7.3.8 NTT Ltd
    • 7.3.9 Rackspace Technology Inc.
    • 7.3.10 Telehouse (KDDI Corporation)
    • 7.3.11 Vantage Data Centers LLC
    • 7.3.12 Virtus Data Centres Properties Ltd (STT GDC)
  • 7.4 LIST OF COMPANIES STUDIED

8. KEY STRATEGIC QUESTIONS FOR DATA CENTER CEOS

9. APPENDIX

  • 9.1 Global Overview
    • 9.1.1 Overview
    • 9.1.2 Porter’s Five Forces Framework
    • 9.1.3 Global Value Chain Analysis
    • 9.1.4 Global Market Size and DROs
  • 9.2 Sources & References
  • 9.3 List of Tables & Figures
  • 9.4 Primary Insights
  • 9.5 Data Pack
  • 9.6 Glossary of Terms
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List of Tables & Figures

  1. Figure 1:  
  2. VOLUME OF IT LOAD CAPACITY, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 2:  
  2. VOLUME OF RAISED FLOOR AREA, SQ.FT. ('000), UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 3:  
  2. VALUE OF COLOCATION REVENUE, USD MILLION, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 4:  
  2. VOLUME OF INSTALLED RACKS, NUMBER, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 5:  
  2. RACK SPACE UTILIZATION, %, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 6:  
  2. COUNT OF SMARTPHONE USERS, IN MILLION, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 7:  
  2. DATA TRAFFIC PER SMARTPHONE, GB, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 8:  
  2. AVERAGE MOBILE DATA SPEED, MBPS, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 9:  
  2. AVERAGE BROADBAND SPEED, MBPS, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 10:  
  2. LENGTH OF FIBER CONNECTIVITY NETWORK, KILOMETER, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 11:  
  2. VOLUME OF IT LOAD CAPACITY, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 12:  
  2. VOLUME OF HOTSPOT, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 13:  
  2. VOLUME SHARE OF HOTSPOT, %, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 14:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF LONDON, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 15:  
  2. VOLUME SHARE OF LONDON, MW, HOTSPOT, %, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 16:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF REST OF UNITED KINGDOM, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 17:  
  2. VOLUME SHARE OF REST OF UNITED KINGDOM, MW, HOTSPOT, %, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 18:  
  2. VOLUME OF DATA CENTER SIZE, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 19:  
  2. VOLUME SHARE OF DATA CENTER SIZE, %, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 20:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF LARGE, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 21:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF MASSIVE, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 22:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF MEDIUM, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 23:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF MEGA, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 24:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF SMALL, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 25:  
  2. VOLUME OF TIER TYPE, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 26:  
  2. VOLUME SHARE OF TIER TYPE, %, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 27:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF TIER 1 AND 2, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 28:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF TIER 3, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 29:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF TIER 4, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 30:  
  2. VOLUME OF ABSORPTION, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 31:  
  2. VOLUME SHARE OF ABSORPTION, %, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 32:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF NON-UTILIZED, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 33:  
  2. VOLUME OF COLOCATION TYPE, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 34:  
  2. VOLUME SHARE OF COLOCATION TYPE, %, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 35:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF HYPERSCALE, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 36:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF RETAIL, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 37:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF WHOLESALE, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 38:  
  2. VOLUME OF END USER, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 39:  
  2. VOLUME SHARE OF END USER, %, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 40:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF BFSI, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 41:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF CLOUD, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 42:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF E-COMMERCE, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 43:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF GOVERNMENT, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 44:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF MANUFACTURING, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 45:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 46:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF TELECOM, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 47:  
  2. VOLUME SIZE OF OTHER END USER, MW, UNITED KINGDOM, 2018 - 2030
  1. Figure 48:  
  2. VOLUME SHARE OF MAJOR PLAYERS, %, UNITED KINGDOM

United Kingdom Data Center Industry Segmentation

London are covered as segments by Hotspot. Large, Massive, Medium, Mega, Small are covered as segments by Data Center Size. Tier 1 and 2, Tier 3, Tier 4 are covered as segments by Tier Type. Non-Utilized, Utilized are covered as segments by Absorption.
Hotspot London
Rest of United Kingdom
Data Center Size Large
Massive
Medium
Mega
Small
Tier Type Tier 1 and 2
Tier 3
Tier 4
Absorption Non-Utilized
Utilized By Colocation Type Hyperscale
Retail
Wholesale
By End User BFSI
Cloud
E-Commerce
Government
Manufacturing
Media & Entertainment
Telecom
Other End User
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Market Definition

  • IT LOAD CAPACITY - The IT load capacity or installed capacity, refers to the amount of energy consumed by servers and network equipments placed in a rack installed. It is measured in megawatt (MW).
  • ABSORPTION RATE - It denotes the extend to which the data center capacity has been leased out. For instance, a 100 MW DC has leased out 75 MW, then absorption rate would be 75%. It is also referred as utilization rate and leased-out capacity.
  • RAISED FLOOR SPACE - It is an elevated space build over the floor. This gap between the original floor and the elevated floor is used to accommodate wiring, cooling, and other data center equipment. This arrangement assist in having proper wiring and cooling infrastructure. It is measured in square feet (ft^2).
  • DATA CENTER SIZE - Data Center Size is segmented based on the raised floor space allocated to the data center facilities. Mega DC - # of Racks must be more than 9000 or RFS (raised floor space) must be more than 225001 Sq. ft; Massive DC - # of Racks must be in between 9000 and 3001 or RFS must be in between 225000 Sq. ft and 75001 Sq. ft; Large DC - # of Racks must be in between 3000 and 801 or RFS must be in between 75000 Sq. ft and 20001 Sq. ft; Medium DC # of Racks must be in between 800 and 201 or RFS must be in between 20000 Sq. ft and 5001 Sq. ft; Small DC - # of Racks must be less than 200 or RFS must be less than 5000 Sq. ft.
  • TIER TYPE - According to Uptime Institute the data centers are classified into four tiers based on the proficiencies of redundant equipment of the data center infrastructure. In this segment the data center are segmented as Tier 1,Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4.
  • COLOCATION TYPE - The segment is segregated into 3 categories namely Retail, Wholesale and Hyperscale Colocation service. The categorization is done based on the amount of IT load leased out to potential customers. Retail colocation service has leased capacity less than 250 kW; Wholesale colocation services has leased capacity between 251 kW and 4 MW and Hyperscale colocation services has leased capacity more than 4 MW.
  • END CONSUMERS - The Data Center Market operates on a B2B basis. BFSI, Government, Cloud Operators, Media and Entertainment, E-Commerce, Telecom and Manufacturing are the major end-consumers in the market studied. The scope only includes colocation service operators catering to the increasing digitalization of the end-user industries.
Keyword Definition
Rack Unit Generally referred as U or RU, it is the unit of measurement for the server unit housed in the racks in the data center. 1U is equal to 1.75 inches.
Rack Density It defines the amount of power consumed by the equipment and server housed in a rack. It is measured in kilowatt (kW). This factor plays a critical role in data center design and, cooling and power planning.
IT Load Capacity The IT load capacity or installed capacity, refers to the amount of energy consumed by servers and network equipment placed in a rack installed. It is measured in megawatt (MW).
Absorption Rate It denotes how much of the data center capacity has been leased out. For instance, if a 100 MW DC has leased out 75 MW, then the absorption rate would be 75%. It is also referred to as utilization rate and leased-out capacity.
Raised Floor Space It is an elevated space built over the floor. This gap between the original floor and the elevated floor is used to accommodate wiring, cooling, and other data center equipment. This arrangement assists in having proper wiring and cooling infrastructure. It is measured in square feet/meter.
Computer Room Air Conditioner (CRAC) It is a device used to monitor and maintain the temperature, air circulation, and humidity inside the server room in the data center.
Aisle It is the open space between the rows of racks. This open space is critical for maintaining the optimal temperature (20-25 °C) in the server room. There are primarily two aisles inside the server room, a hot aisle and a cold aisle.
Cold Aisle It is the aisle wherein the front of the rack faces the aisle. Here, chilled air is directed into the aisle so that it can enter the front of the racks and maintain the temperature.
Hot Aisle It is the aisle where the back of the racks faces the aisle. Here, the heat dissipated from the equipment’s in the rack is directed to the outlet vent of the CRAC.
Critical Load It includes the servers and other computer equipment whose uptime is critical for data center operation.
Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) It is a metric which defines the efficiency of a data center. It is calculated by: (𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)/(𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐼𝑇 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛). Further, a data center with a PUE of 1.2-1.5 is considered highly efficient, whereas, a data center with a PUE >2 is considered highly inefficient.
Redundancy It is defined as a system design wherein additional component (UPS, generators, CRAC) is added so that in case of power outage, equipment failure, the IT equipment should not be affected.
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) It is a device that is connected in series with the utility power supply, storing energy in batteries such that the supply from UPS is continuous to IT equipment even during utility power is snapped. The UPS primarily supports the IT equipment only.
Generators Just like UPS, generators are placed in the data center to ensure an uninterrupted power supply, avoiding downtime. Data center facilities have diesel generators and commonly, 48-hour diesel is stored in the facility to prevent disruption.
N It denotes the tools and equipment required for a data center to function at full load. Only "N" indicates that there is no backup to the equipment in the event of any failure.
N+1 Referred to as 'Need plus one', it denotes the additional equipment setup available to avoid downtime in case of failure. A data center is considered N+1 when there is one additional unit for every 4 components. For instance, if a data center has 4 UPS systems, then for to achieve N+1, an additional UPS system would be required.
2N It refers to fully redundant design wherein two independent power distribution system is deployed. Therefore, in the event of a complete failure of one distribution system, the other system will still supply power to the data center.
In-Row Cooling It is the cooling design system installed between racks in a row where it draws warm air from the hot aisle and supplies cool air to the cold aisle, thereby maintaining the temperature.
Tier 1 Tier classification determines the preparedness of a data center facility to sustain data center operation. A data center is classified as Tier 1 data center when it has a non-redundant (N) power component (UPS, generators), cooling components, and power distribution system (from utility power grids). The Tier 1 data center has an uptime of 99.67% and an annual downtime of <28.8 hours.
Tier 2 A data center is classified as Tier 2 data center when it has a redundant power and cooling components (N+1) and a single non-redundant distribution system. Redundant components include extra generators, UPS, chillers, heat rejection equipment, and fuel tanks. The Tier 2 data center has an uptime of 99.74% and an annual downtime of <22 hours.
Tier 3 A data center having redundant power and cooling components and multiple power distribution systems is referred to as a Tier 3 data center. The facility is resistant to planned (facility maintenance) and unplanned (power outage, cooling failure) disruption. The Tier 3 data center has an uptime of 99.98% and an annual downtime of <1.6 hours.
Tier 4 It is the most tolerant type of data center. A Tier 4 data center has multiple, independent redundant power and cooling components and multiple power distribution paths. All IT equipment are dual powered, making them fault tolerant in case of any disruption, thereby ensuring interrupted operation. The Tier 4 data center has an uptime of 99.74% and an annual downtime of <26.3 minutes.
Small Data Center Data center that has floor space area of ≤ 5,000 Sq. ft or the number of racks that can be installed is ≤ 200 is classified as a small data center.
Medium Data Center Data center which has floor space area between 5,001-20,000 Sq. ft, or the number of racks that can be installed is between 201-800, is classified as a medium data center.
Large Data Center Data center which has floor space area between 20,001-75,000 Sq. ft, or the number of racks that can be installed is between 801-3,000, is classified as a large data center.
Massive Data Center Data center which has floor space area between 75,001-225,000 Sq. ft, or the number of racks that can be installed is between 3001-9,000, is classified as a massive data center.
Mega Data Center Data center that has a floor space area of ≥ 225,001 Sq. ft or the number of racks that can be installed is ≥ 9001 is classified as a mega data center.
Retail Colocation It refers to those customers who have a capacity requirement of 250 kW or less. These services are majorly opted by small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Wholesale Colocation It refers to those customers who have a capacity requirement between 250 kW to 4 MW. These services are majorly opted by medium to large enterprises.
Hyperscale Colocation It refers to those customers who have a capacity requirement greater than 4 MW. The hyperscale demand primarily originates from large-scale cloud players, IT companies, BFSI, and OTT players (like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO+).
Mobile Data Speed It is the mobile internet speed a user experiences via their smartphones. This speed is primarily dependent on the carrier technology being used in the smartphone. The carrier technologies available in the market are 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, where 2G provides the slowest speed while 5G is the fastest.
Fiber Connectivity Network It is a network of optical fiber cables deployed across the country, connecting rural and urban regions with high-speed internet connection. It is measured in kilometer (km).
Data Traffic per Smartphone It is a measure of average data consumption by a smartphone user in a month. It is measured in gigabyte (GB).
Broadband Data Speed It is the internet speed that is supplied over the fixed cable connection. Commonly, copper cable and optic fiber cable are used in both residential and commercial use. Here, optic cable fiber provides faster internet speed than copper cable.
Submarine Cable A submarine cable is a fiber optic cable laid down at two or more landing points. Through this cable, communication and internet connectivity between countries across the globe is established. These cables can transmit 100-200 terabits per second (Tbps) from one point to another.
Carbon Footprint It is the measure of carbon dioxide generated during the regular operation of a data center. Since, coal, and oil & gas are the primary source of power generation, consumption of this power contributes to carbon emissions. Data center operators are incorporating renewable energy sources to curb the carbon footprint emerging in their facilities.
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Mordor Intelligence follows a four-step methodology in all our reports.

  • Step-1: Identify Key Variables: In order to build a robust forecasting methodology, the variables and factors identified in Step-1 are tested against available historical market numbers. Through an iterative process, the variables required for market forecast are set and the model is built on the basis of these variables.
  • Step-2: Build a Market Model: Market-size estimations for the forecast years are in nominal terms. Inflation is not a part of the pricing, and the average selling price (ASP) is kept constant throughout the forecast period for each country.
  • Step-3: Validate and Finalize: In this important step, all market numbers, variables and analyst calls are validated through an extensive network of primary research experts from the market studied. The respondents are selected across levels and functions to generate a holistic picture of the market studied.
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United Kingdom Data Center Market Research FAQs

What is the current United Kingdom Data Center Market size?

The United Kingdom Data Center Market is projected to register a CAGR of 12.88% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

Who are the key players in United Kingdom Data Center Market?

Digital Realty Trust Inc., Equinix Inc., NTT Ltd, Rackspace Technology Inc. and Virtus Data Centres Properties Ltd (STT GDC) are the major companies operating in the United Kingdom Data Center Market.

Which segment has the biggest share in the United Kingdom Data Center Market?

In the United Kingdom Data Center Market, the Tier 3 segment accounts for the largest share by tier type.

Which is the fastest growing segment in the United Kingdom Data Center Market?

In 2025, the Tier 4 segment accounts for the fastest growing by tier type in the United Kingdom Data Center Market.

What years does this United Kingdom Data Center Market cover, and what was the market size in 2025?

In 2025, the United Kingdom Data Center Market size was estimated at 2.59 thousand. The report covers the United Kingdom Data Center Market historical market size for years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the United Kingdom Data Center Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.

United Kingdom Data Center Market Research

Mordor Intelligence offers a comprehensive analysis of the United Kingdom data center industry. We leverage extensive expertise in data center research and consulting. Our detailed examination covers the entire spectrum of data center infrastructure. This includes developments in cloud data center and implementations of edge data center across the UK. The report provides in-depth insights into data center trends. It covers data center cooling technologies, green data center initiatives, and data center construction activities in key locations like London and Manchester, as well as other data centre hotspots.

Stakeholders gain valuable insights through our thorough analysis of data center growth patterns and data center demand forecast metrics. The report examines various segments, including colocation data center facilities, hyperscale data center operations, and modular data center deployments. Our research encompasses data center capacity measurements in MW and typical data center size specifications. It also includes a detailed data center pricing per KW analysis. The comprehensive report PDF is available for download. It features data center mapping across the UK, data centre tiers classifications, and projected data center industry growth statistics through 2029.

UK Data Centre Market Report Snapshots