Data Centers in Bulgaria

Bulgaria – Strategic Hub for Balkan & Black Sea Connectivity

Executive Summary

Bulgaria offers a compelling combination of low operational costs, minimal disaster risk, and a strategic geographic position for businesses targeting Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region. Its highly competitive power pricing and stable infrastructure make it a prime market for deploying workloads that require cost efficiency without sacrificing performance. This environment allows companies to establish a digital gateway to serve emerging markets in the Balkans and beyond.

Bulgaria: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Bulgaria’s connectivity landscape is centered in its capital, Sofia, which serves as the primary interconnection point for the country and a growing hub for the Balkan region.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: The market is served by over 10 network providers as of September 2025. A healthy ecosystem of colocation facilities in Sofia offers carrier-neutral access, providing diverse connectivity options from both local and international carriers.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct, in-country cloud on-ramps from major hyperscalers as of September 2025. Businesses connect to cloud regions by extending their networks to major European hubs like Frankfurt, Vienna, or Athens using private line, VPLS, or wavelength services.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The main peering point is the Bulgarian Internet Exchange (BIX.BG) in Sofia. It facilitates efficient traffic exchange between local networks, reducing latency and improving performance for domestic users.

Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are readily available from providers operating within the country. Global providers such as Leaseweb offer dedicated server infrastructure from their points of presence in Sofia.

Power Analysis

Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity is priced at approximately €0.09/kWh as of August 2025. This highly competitive rate directly reduces operational expenditures, making Bulgaria an attractive location for power-intensive computing. The country's energy mix includes significant contributions from nuclear (43%) and renewable sources (21%).

Power Grid Reliability: The national power grid is reliable, particularly in the Sofia metropolitan area where the majority of data centers are located. The grid benefits from a stable baseload provided by nuclear power plants, and modern facilities are supported by redundant power feeds and substation diversity.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Proximity To Key Business Districts: Most Bulgarian data centers are strategically located in or near Sofia. This provides low-latency connectivity to the country's primary economic engine, serving the financial, technology, government, and outsourcing industries concentrated in the capital.

Regional Market Reach: Bulgaria’s location provides a strategic base for serving the Balkan peninsula and the Black Sea region. It offers effective connectivity to neighboring markets including Romania, Greece, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Turkey.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: While Bulgaria does not offer specific tax incentives for data center development, its business climate is highly favorable. The country has one of the lowest flat corporate income tax rates in the European Union, which creates an attractive financial environment for all businesses.

Natural Disaster Risk

Bulgaria has a low overall risk profile for natural disasters, with an INFORM Risk score of 2.6 out of 10 as of September 2025. This low exposure contributes to the country's appeal for mission-critical infrastructure and business continuity.

The primary natural hazards to consider during site selection are:

• Earthquake: The most significant risk, with a score of 6.2/10, concentrated in specific seismic zones.
• River Flood: A moderate risk (5.1/10) primarily affecting low-lying areas near major rivers.
• Coastal Flood: A minor risk (2.9/10) relevant only to facilities located directly on the Black Sea coast.
• Drought: A minor risk scored at 2.8/10.