Colocation provides physical space for customer-owned hardware in commercial facilities. A data centre service involves providing a physical structure that includes a data hall for housing, connecting, and operating information technology (IT) equipment (GOV.UK). Operators supply space, power, cooling, and security, while enterprises own their servers.
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Regional colocation hosting hubs
To establish dedicated cloud interconnects, enterprise networks must physically meet Google's network in a supported colocation facility (Google Cloud documentation). Key regional clusters include:
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London: Digital Realty operates six interconnected campuses across London, including Cloud House and Cloud House West in the Digital Docklands (Digital Realty).
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Slough: Western cluster location with facilities such as VIRTUS LONDON19 (VIRTUS).
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Regional hubs: Compare facility profiles across regional city guides including Manchester, Cardiff and Newport, and Glasgow.
Comparing colocation services and facility specifications
Across UK data centres and operators, buyers compare specific engineering metrics:
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Technical space: Net technical area defines space, such as VIRTUS LONDON19 delivering over 8,500 m2 built to Uptime Tier III standard (VIRTUS).
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Design targets: Facilities report design power usage effectiveness (PUE). VIRTUS LONDON19 targets a design PUE below 1.3 (VIRTUS), reflecting engineering design rather than operational performance.
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Cooling infrastructure: VIRTUS LONDON19 uses an N+1 chilled water system (capacity plus one additional unit as a mechanical design standard, not an uptime promise) and is liquid cooling ready (VIRTUS); readiness indicates structural design accommodation, not installed customer cooling or active vacancy.
Technical evaluation for server colocation
Procuring server colocation requires defining technical requirements at hall level:
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State white space requirements in rack counts, private cages, or net area.
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Specify contracted power density per rack and metered tariffs.
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Confirm uninterruptible power supply (UPS) redundancy and backup generators.
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Confirm cooling delivery matches equipment heat profiles.
Capacity matching through Data Centre Axis
Colocation, wholesale, and artificial intelligence (AI)-ready capacity requirements undergo manual evidence-linked matching against Data Centre Axis research. Candidate facilities are shortlisted with supporting technical evidence, followed by mutually agreed operator introductions. Commercial terms are agreed directly between the parties.
Frequently asked questions about UK colocation
What is server colocation?
Server colocation is housing customer-owned hardware in a commercial facility. A data centre service involves providing a physical structure that includes a data hall for housing, connecting, and operating information technology (IT) equipment (GOV.UK).
How much does colocation cost in the UK?
Costs depend on rack space, contracted power density, metered energy, and cross-connects. Buyers must evaluate commercial terms on a like-for-like basis directly with operators.
What is included in colocation services?
Buyers should confirm service inclusions such as power feeds, cooling, and space. Dedicated cloud connections require deploying in supported colocation facilities (Google Cloud documentation).
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