Data Centers in Ottawa

Ottawa – Canada's Secure Digital Capital

Executive Summary

Ottawa is a primary Canadian market for government, public sector, and enterprise organizations that require high security and operational stability. Its strategic location between Toronto and Montreal provides excellent network redundancy and serves as a vital disaster recovery site. This market delivers reliable, low-risk colocation that protects critical digital assets and ensures business continuity.

Ottawa: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Ottawa’s connectivity is built for government-grade reliability. The market features 14 data centers with access to 11 network providers as of September 2025, offering a solid foundation for enterprise and public sector workloads.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: With over 10 carriers present, organizations can secure redundant connectivity from multiple providers. The market supports a healthy ecosystem of carrier-neutral facilities, preventing vendor lock-in and allowing for competitive pricing.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct public cloud on-ramps within Ottawa as of September 2025. Secure, low-latency access to all major cloud providers is achieved via dedicated private network links to nearby interconnection hubs in Montreal and Toronto.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The region is served by the Ottawa Internet Exchange (OttIX), which facilitates local traffic peering to improve performance and reduce transit costs for connected networks. Most large-scale peering, however, occurs in Toronto or Montreal.

Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are readily available from multiple providers in the Ottawa market. Global providers like Hivelocity offer dedicated server solutions for workloads requiring direct hardware access.

Power Analysis

Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity rates are estimated between C$0.12 and C$0.15 per kWh as of September 2025. This competitive pricing, combined with a stable grid, provides predictable operational costs for power-dense deployments.

Power Grid Reliability: The power grid, primarily supplied by hydro and nuclear sources, is exceptionally stable. Data centers in the region are supported by redundant power infrastructure, making it a reliable location for mission-critical applications.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers in Ottawa are strategically located to serve the high concentration of federal government agencies, research institutions, and the Kanata North technology park. This proximity enables low-latency solutions for public sector and tech industry clients.

Regional Market Reach: Ottawa provides effective digital infrastructure coverage for Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. It is also an ideal secondary or disaster recovery site for primary deployments in Toronto or Montreal.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: Canada offers no specific national tax incentives for data center construction or operation. The financial advantage in Ottawa comes from its stable operating environment and competitive power costs, not from direct tax credits or abatements.

Natural Disaster Risk

Ottawa has a low overall risk profile for natural disasters, with a score of 2.7 out of 10 as of September 2025. This stability is a key reason government and enterprise customers choose the market for critical infrastructure.

While the overall hazard level is low, key environmental risks to monitor include:

• River Flood: The highest individual risk factor for the region.
• Earthquake: A measurable but low probability of significant seismic activity.
• Tropical Cyclone: Very low risk of impact from remnants of distant storms.
• Drought: A minor risk factor for the area.