Data Centers in Charleston

Charleston – Resilient Edge Infrastructure for the Southeast Coast

Charleston is the primary choice for enterprises needing low-latency access to the Southeast maritime and aerospace corridors without the overhead of Tier 1 markets. It provides a secure, cost-effective landing point for logistics and industrial data management where reliability and tax efficiency are non-negotiable.

Charleston: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality The market maintains a focused ecosystem with ~10–15 carriers as of September 2025. While more consolidated than a massive hub like Atlanta, the carrier-neutral environment ensures competitive pricing and enough path redundancy for enterprise uptime requirements.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps There are 0 direct cloud on-ramps in the immediate metro area as of September 2025. Most deployments utilize private network interfaces or wavelength services to reach primary cloud regions in Atlanta. This configuration provides reliable access to AWS, Google Cloud (GCP), and Microsoft Azure while keeping physical hardware closer to coastal operations.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) Public peering is limited within the local market as of September 2025. Most traffic exchange occurs through private peering arrangements or by backhauling to regional interconnection hubs in Atlanta or Charlotte.

Bare Metal Bare metal services are available through regional providers and national specialists such as Hivelocity and phoenixNAP. These options allow for rapid scaling of physical compute resources without the long-term capital expenditure of traditional colocation.

Power Analysis

Average Cost Of Power Industrial electricity is priced at $0.07/kWh as of September 2025. This rate sits below the national average, directly reducing the total cost of operation for high-density users. The energy mix is stable, consisting of approximately 55% nuclear, 24% natural gas, 8% coal, and 13% renewables.

Power Grid Reliability The local grid is engineered to support heavy industrial loads, specifically for the aerospace and maritime sectors. Data centers in key corridors benefit from redundant feeds and multi-substation support, ensuring high uptime even during peak seasonal demand.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Proximity To Key Business Districts Data centers are strategically located near major industrial hubs, including the Palmetto Commerce Parkway and the Port of Charleston. This proximity is essential for logistics and manufacturing firms that require real-time data processing for physical operations.

Regional Market Reach Charleston serves as a primary digital gateway for the Lowcountry, filling the geographic gap between Charlotte and Miami. It effectively serves the coastal South Carolina and Georgia markets with minimal latency.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers South Carolina provides a statutory sales tax exemption for hardware, software, and power equipment investments. This legislative framework creates a predictable financial environment that rewards long-term infrastructure commitments.

Natural Disaster Risk

The Charleston market carries a High (88.80) risk rating as of September 2025. Due to its coastal location, infrastructure is purpose-built to withstand extreme conditions, and facilities typically prioritize elevation to manage water risks. The highest-scoring natural hazards include:

• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Riverine Flooding
• Strong Wind
• Lightning
• Heat Waves

Other risks, such as drought or earthquakes, are present but are minor relative to the primary atmospheric threats. Facilities in the region use hardened designs to mitigate these specific regional challenges.