Data Centers in Moscow

Moscow – Primary Hub for a Vast Digital Market

Executive Summary

Moscow is the undisputed digital nexus for Russia, serving as the country's primary center for finance, government, and telecommunications. For any organization targeting the Russian domestic market, establishing a presence here is critical for achieving the low latency and performance necessary for digital services. The city's dense connectivity ecosystem provides direct access to one of the largest internet populations in the world.

Moscow: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Moscow's network infrastructure is mature and concentrated, providing exceptional connectivity within Russia and the surrounding region.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: Moscow is a dense interconnection hub, offering access to over 8 major domestic and international carriers within its 40 colocation facilities, as of September 2025. Carrier-neutral facilities provide the primary peering points for the entire country.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no public cloud on-ramps located directly within Moscow, as of September 2025. Access to hyperscale cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure requires private network connections to major European hubs such as Frankfurt, Stockholm, or Helsinki.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The city is home to MSK-IX, one of the largest internet exchanges in the world by traffic volume. This IXP is critical for keeping domestic traffic within national borders, significantly reducing latency for Russian users.

Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are widely available from various providers. Global providers like Leaseweb and OVHcloud offer dedicated server solutions, enabling businesses to deploy high-performance computing without capital expenditure.

Power Analysis

Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity rates typically range from ₽5.00–₽7.00/kWh, as of September 2025. This competitive pricing helps manage the significant operational expenses associated with high-density compute deployments.

Power Grid Reliability: The power grid serving Moscow's primary data center zones is reliable and well-engineered. Enterprise-grade data centers are supported by redundant power feeds from multiple substations, ensuring high levels of uptime for mission-critical operations.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers in Moscow are strategically positioned to serve the city's central business district, financial institutions, and federal government agencies. This proximity ensures minimal latency for the most demanding applications.

Regional Market Reach: As the primary economic and network hub, Moscow provides a strategic base for reaching the entirety of Russia's vast territory and 11 time zones. It also serves as a key connectivity gateway to neighboring countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: There are no specific tax incentives targeted at data center construction or operation in Russia. This lack of special programs provides a clear and predictable financial landscape, as all investments can be modeled using standard corporate tax regulations.

Natural Disaster Risk

Moscow has a moderate overall risk profile, with a score of 4.4 out of 10, as of September 2025. The risk landscape is defined more by human and institutional factors than by natural hazards.

The most significant natural disaster risks for the Moscow region include:

• River Flood: The highest natural risk factor for the region, though modern flood controls mitigate the threat to critical infrastructure.
• Drought: A notable secondary risk that can impact water resources and agriculture on a regional basis.
• Earthquake: Seismic activity is considered a low-probability event in this region.