Data Centers in Biel

Biel – Stable, Secure Swiss Colocation

Biel is a strategic data center location for businesses requiring high security and stability within Switzerland's federal framework. The market provides resilient infrastructure in a low-risk environment, making it an excellent choice for disaster recovery and secondary deployments supporting primary operations in Zurich or Geneva.

Biel: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Biel offers a stable, albeit smaller, connectivity ecosystem compared to primary Swiss markets. The infrastructure is modern and reliable, suitable for most enterprise and disaster recovery needs.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: Biel is served by at least 2 providers, as of September 2025, operating 2 data centers. While not a carrier-dense market, customers can secure diverse connectivity from national providers.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no public cloud on-ramps located directly in Biel, as of September 2025. Businesses connect to major cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure via dedicated private network links to interconnection hubs in Zurich.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The market relies on private peering or connects to the SwissIX in Zurich. This provides efficient traffic exchange with national and international networks.

Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are available in the region, often provisioned from larger nearby markets. Providers like Hivelocity and phoenixNAP can serve customer needs through their European data centers.

Power Analysis

Switzerland's power grid is known for its exceptional reliability and high percentage of carbon-free generation, primarily from hydroelectric and nuclear sources.

Average Cost Of Power: Expect industrial power rates between CHF 0.18 and CHF 0.23/kWh, as of September 2025. While higher than the European average, this cost secures access to one of the world's most stable and greenest power grids. The energy mix is approximately 56% hydroelectric and 33% nuclear.

Power Grid Reliability: The national grid is extremely reliable, with well-maintained infrastructure and redundant supply routes. Biel benefits from this national standard, ensuring high uptime for critical operations.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Biel is situated within one of the most stable economic and political environments in the world. Its location offers a good balance between cost and proximity to major Swiss business centers.

Proximity To Key Business Districts: The city is a center for precision manufacturing, particularly watchmaking, and is located conveniently between the major economic hubs of Bern and Zurich. This makes it ideal for regional enterprises and as a secondary site for larger Swiss operations.

Regional Market Reach: From Biel, businesses can effectively serve the Swiss Plateau, which contains the majority of the country's population and economic activity. Low-latency connections are readily available to Bern, Geneva, and Zurich.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: While Switzerland lacks specific tax incentives for data centers, it offers a stable and predictable corporate tax environment. The federal structure allows for competitive cantonal tax rates, providing a reliable financial framework for long-term investment.

Natural Disaster Risk

Biel has a very low natural disaster risk profile, with an INFORM Risk score of 1.8 out of 10, as of September 2025. This makes it an ideal location for critical data storage and disaster recovery sites where uptime and data preservation are paramount.

The primary natural hazards to consider, while still low in probability, are:

• River Flood: The highest individual risk factor for the region, though modern flood controls mitigate the threat to critical infrastructure.
• Earthquake: The area has moderate seismic risk by Swiss standards, but building codes are designed to withstand local seismic activity.
• Drought: A minor risk that could impact hydroelectric power generation in extreme, prolonged scenarios.