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Criteria for Data Center Site Selection
The geographical location of a data center is a central factor for availability, security, and performance. An ideal location is characterized by a low risk of natural events such as floods, earthquakes, or extreme weather conditions – an important aspect for the operational safety of sensitive IT infrastructure.
At the same time, the proximity to economic metropolitan areas plays a major role: it not only ensures low latency in data transmission but also good connections to partners, customers, and service providers.
An outstanding example of this is Frankfurt am Main, which is one of the most important data center locations in Europe. The city is geographically central in Germany and Europe, thus offering an optimal location for both national and international connections. Access to the DE-CIX, one of the world’s largest Internet exchange points, enables extremely powerful and low-latency network connections – a major advantage for cloud services, streaming, financial transactions, and AI applications. In addition, the high density of companies, financial service providers, and globally active corporations make the location particularly attractive economically.
This combination of infrastructure, connectivity, and market proximity makes Frankfurt a preferred location for data centers – including for firstcolo.
Besides Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin are also notable as outstanding data center locations in the European context. These, in connection with Frankfurt, are also referred to as the “FLAP-D” markets.
Energy Supply and Connectivity
A stable, powerful, and redundant energy supply is essential for the smooth operation of a data center. Ideal locations have a well-developed network infrastructure and preferably multiple independent power feeds. Depending on the power requirements, proximity to transformer stations or high-voltage networks is also a decisive factor.
The availability of green electricity is becoming increasingly important. Many operators – including firstcolo – are specifically focusing on electricity from renewable energy sources or entering into long-term power purchase agreements with green electricity providers. The possibility of integrating photovoltaics or using waste heat as an energy source for adjacent areas is also playing an increasingly important role in site selection.
Equally important is the connection to powerful fiber-optic backbones and carrier infrastructures. The better the connectivity, the higher the quality of the network connection – a central criterion for applications with real-time requirements, such as cloud or financial applications.
Security and Data Protection Requirements
A data center location must not only be technically capable – it must also meet the legal and security-related requirements of its customers. Especially for companies from regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, or public administration, compliance with data protection regulations like the GDPR is essential.
Data locality plays a central role here: Data processed and stored within Germany or the EU is subject to stricter legal protection requirements and is therefore better protected against access by third parties. Data centers in Germany offer a high degree of legal certainty here – both for national and internationally operating companies.
Additionally, professional operators offer certified infrastructures, e.g., according to ISO 27001, ISO 50001, or EN 50600. These certifications prove that processes and systems meet the highest requirements for security, energy efficiency, and quality – and thus also provide valuable assurance during audits or compliance checks.
