Data Centers in Bologna
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Bologna – Italy's Strategic Northern Hub
Executive Summary
Bologna is an emerging data center market ideal for organizations requiring resilient infrastructure in Northern Italy. It offers a strategic alternative to Milan for disaster recovery and serving the manufacturing and logistics heartland of the Emilia-Romagna region. This location provides a balance of solid connectivity and lower operational risks, ensuring reliable service delivery to key Italian commercial centers.
Bologna: At A Glance
| Factor | Rating / Data | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global Connectivity Grade | B | Good national and regional fiber; less diverse than primary European hubs. |
| Direct Cloud On-Ramps | 0 – as of September 2025 | The nearest major cloud hub is Milan; private connectivity is available. |
| Power Cost | €0.19-€0.24/kWh | Industrial power costs are in line with national averages. |
| Disaster Risk | Low (3/10) – as of September 2025 | Primary risks are seismic and flood-related, though overall exposure is low. |
| Tax Incentives | Yes | General subsidies are available for implementing energy-efficient systems and facility improvements. |
| Sales Tax | 22% VAT – as of September 2025 | The standard Italian Value Added Tax rate applies to services. |
Network & Connectivity Ecosystem
Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: Bologna supports a healthy ecosystem of over 2 providers, with a total of 4 data centers available for colocation as of September 2025. The market offers access to both national and regional carriers, with carrier-neutral facilities providing interconnection options.
Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct public cloud on-ramps located within Bologna as of September 2025. Businesses connect to the 0 cloud regions in Italy via the primary hub in Milan, which is accessible through private network interconnects and dedicated wavelength services.
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): While smaller, local peering points exist, most significant peering occurs through private interconnects or via the Milan Internet eXchange (MIX). This setup ensures efficient traffic exchange for Northern Italy.
Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are available in Bologna, providing dedicated compute resources for performance-sensitive applications. Providers like phoenixNAP and OVHcloud offer solutions in the broader Italian market.
Power Analysis
Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity rates typically fall between €0.19 and €0.24 per kWh as of September 2025. These costs are a significant factor in total operational expenses for compute-heavy deployments. The national grid relies on a mix of approximately 60% fossil fuels and 40% renewables.
Power Grid Reliability: The power grid serving Bologna's commercial and industrial zones is well-engineered and stable. Data centers in the region are supported by redundant power feeds and substation diversity to ensure high levels of uptime for critical operations.
Market Access, Business & Tax Climate
Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers in Bologna are positioned to serve the city's strong industrial base, including the automotive, manufacturing, and food production sectors. The location provides low-latency connectivity to the commercial heart of the Emilia-Romagna region.
Regional Market Reach: Bologna is a strategic point of presence for serving Northern and Central Italy. Its location offers an effective disaster recovery site for deployments based in Milan and can efficiently reach markets from Florence to Venice.
Tax Advantage For Data Centers: Italy provides a national subsidy for investments in energy-efficient systems and related infrastructure improvements. This incentive helps lower the capital expenditure required for building or upgrading to modern, sustainable data center standards.
Natural Disaster Risk
Bologna has a low overall natural disaster risk profile, with an INFORM Risk score of 3 out of 10 as of September 2025. While the general risk is minimal, operators should engineer facilities to mitigate specific regional hazards.
Key risks include:
- Earthquake: The most significant natural hazard, rated 7.7 out of 10.
- Coastal Flood: Rated 6.5 out of 10, though Bologna's inland location mitigates direct impact.
- River Flood: A notable risk rated at 6.2 out of 10.
- Tsunami: Rated 6.1 out of 10, representing a regional rather than a direct local threat.
