Data Centers in Genoa

Genoa – Strategic Mediterranean Subsea Interconnection Hub

Executive Summary

Genoa serves as a critical entry point for international subsea cables, linking Europe to Africa and Asia with minimal latency. This market is a strategic choice for enterprises requiring diverse transit paths outside traditional northern hubs while maintaining proximity to the industrial powerhouses of Northern Italy.

Genoa: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Genoa functions as a high-capacity gateway, processing massive international data streams before they move inland.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: The market supports over 15 carriers as of September 2025. While the footprint is specific to the subsea landing sector, the density is high relative to the number of facilities, catering to massive backhaul requirements.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are 0 direct public cloud on-ramps in Genoa as of September 2025. Operators typically provide private Layer 2 extensions or high-capacity waves to reach the primary Italian on-ramp hubs in Milan.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): Local peering is handled by the Liguria Internet Exchange (LIX), which keeps regional traffic local to improve speed for nearby users. Most providers also maintain high-speed links to the Milan Internet eXchange (MIX) for broader European connectivity.

Bare Metal: High-performance bare metal options are available through providers such as Hivelocity and Latitude.sh. These services allow for compute workloads to sit directly at the cable landing edge.

Power Analysis

The energy environment in Genoa is stable, supported by a mix of traditional and renewable sources.

Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity is approximately €0.19/kWh as of September 2025. This pricing provides a predictable cost structure compared to more volatile northern European markets.

Power Grid Reliability: The local grid is well-engineered, utilizing a redundant infrastructure originally built to support the heavy industrial needs of the Port of Genoa. Data centers typically utilize multi-substation support to ensure consistent uptime.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Genoa leverages its maritime heritage to act as a digital bridge between continents.

Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers are located near the Port of Genoa and major logistics corridors. This location is essential for shipping, maritime insurance, and international trade sectors that rely on immediate access to global communication lines.

Regional Market Reach: Genoa is the primary ingress point for the Liguria region and serves as a resilient secondary path for the broader Northern Italian economy. It effectively reaches the Mediterranean basin, Southern Europe, and North Africa with low latency.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: Italy provides financial incentives for businesses investing in energy-efficient systems. These subsidies help reduce the long-term operational costs of managing high-density cooling and power distribution systems.

Natural Disaster Risk

The overall risk for Genoa is Low (3.0/10) as of September 2025. While the composite risk is minimal, the coastal geography requires specific facility mitigation for seismic and hydrological events.

Earthquake: 7.7 (Regional activity requires reinforced structures and seismic-rated rack systems).

Coastal Flood: 6.5 (Proximity to the Mediterranean makes water mitigation essential for facilities near the shoreline).

River Flood: 6.2 (Localized risk exists near the Bisagno and Polcevera basins during heavy rain).

Tsunami: 6.1 (A secondary hazard typical of Mediterranean port cities, though considered a regional risk factor).

Other natural hazards, such as drought and tropical cyclones, are minor and do not materially impact the local data center profile as of September 2025.