Data Centers in Ottawa

Ottawa – Secure Hub for Government & Enterprise

Ottawa is a prime market for organizations that require high security, stability, and resilient infrastructure. As Canada's capital, its data center ecosystem is built to support government agencies and technology firms, ensuring uptime and data sovereignty for mission-critical workloads. This focus on stability and security provides a reliable foundation for business continuity.

Ottawa: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Ottawa's connectivity landscape is robust, shaped by its role as the national capital. While not as dense as Toronto, the market offers solid, reliable options for enterprise and government needs.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: The market features access to over 11 carriers, as of September 2025, with several carrier-neutral facilities providing diverse connectivity options. This ensures competitive pricing and network resilience.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct public cloud on-ramps within Ottawa data centers, as of September 2025. Businesses connect to the primary Canadian cloud regions in Toronto and Montreal via high-speed, private network extensions like PNI or wave services.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The region is served by local exchanges that facilitate direct peering and reduce latency for traffic within Eastern Ontario. Most large-scale peering, however, occurs in the major national hubs.

Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are available from providers with a strong Canadian presence, such as OVHcloud, offering dedicated compute resources for performance-sensitive applications.

Power Analysis

Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity rates in Ottawa generally fall within the CA$0.12–$0.15/kWh range, as of September 2025. The cost is competitive for a stable North American market, making large-scale deployments financially predictable. The grid composition, with over 20% from fossil fuels and the remainder from hydro and nuclear, provides a reliable power base.

Power Grid Reliability: The power grid serving the Ottawa region is well-engineered and highly reliable, benefiting from significant investment to support critical government operations. Data centers are typically located in areas with access to redundant power feeds and multiple substations, ensuring excellent uptime.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers in Ottawa are strategically located to serve the federal government and the city's thriving technology sector in Kanata North. This proximity allows for low-latency connections essential for government services, research, and enterprise applications.

Regional Market Reach: Ottawa provides an excellent digital infrastructure hub for serving Eastern Ontario and Quebec. It acts as a strategic disaster recovery site for operations based in Toronto or Montreal and is a strong primary location for workloads targeting the national capital region.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: While Canada does not offer specific tax incentives for data center construction or operation, the country's stable and predictable corporate tax environment is a significant benefit. The lack of special programs means a level playing field without complex eligibility requirements.

Natural Disaster Risk

Ottawa has a low overall risk profile for natural disasters, with an INFORM Risk score of 2.7 out of 10, as of September 2025. This stability is a key advantage for organizations prioritizing uptime and business continuity.

The primary natural hazards to consider are:

• River Flood: The highest individual risk factor for the region, particularly in areas near the Ottawa River.
• Earthquake: A notable but moderate risk, as the region sits in an active seismic zone.
• Tropical Cyclone: A very minor risk from remnants of storms moving far inland.
• Drought: A minimal risk factor for the area.