Data Centers in Bristol
1 locations found
Need Help?
Tell us about your needs and our team of experts will help you find and choose the perfect Data Center and solution at the best price.
Explore Other Markets in Tennessee
Bristol – Strategic Secondary Market Powerhouse
Executive Summary
Bristol, Tennessee is an emerging edge market designed for organizations that need a strategic foothold in the Appalachian Highlands. It offers compelling power costs and significant tax incentives, making it an excellent choice for disaster recovery sites or compute nodes serving the surrounding four-state region. This location provides a cost-effective alternative to primary data center hubs while ensuring resilient infrastructure.
Bristol: At A Glance
| Factor | Rating / Data | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global Connectivity Grade | B | Solid regional connectivity, suited for DR and edge workloads. |
| Direct Cloud On-Ramps | 0 – as of September 2025 | Nearest hubs are in Ashburn, VA or Atlanta, GA; private extensions available. |
| Power Cost | $0.07 – $0.09/kWh | Stable, low-cost power from the Tennessee Valley Authority grid. |
| Disaster Risk | High (79.7 score) – as of September 2025 | Primarily driven by atmospheric and geological risks common to the region. |
| Tax Incentives | Yes | Includes sales tax exemptions for qualified data center equipment purchases. |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% (Tennessee) – as of Midyear 2025 | State-level sales tax, though specific data center exemptions can apply. |
Network & Connectivity Ecosystem
Bristol's connectivity is characteristic of a focused, regional edge market. While it doesn't have the hyper-dense environment of a primary hub, it provides the necessary infrastructure for reaching customers and partners throughout the Southeastern United States.
Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: The market features access to over 3 carriers, as of September 2025. The environment supports carrier-neutral colocation, giving customers choice and redundancy for local and long-haul network services.
Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct cloud on-ramps within Bristol, enabling access to 0 cloud regions locally, as of September 2025. Secure, low-latency connections to major cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure are established via private network extensions to the nearest primary hubs in Ashburn, VA, and Atlanta, GA.
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): Public peering is not a major feature of this market. Most interconnection is handled privately between carriers or through transit providers connecting to major exchange points in Atlanta.
Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are available, providing dedicated compute for performance-sensitive applications. Providers like Hivelocity offer solutions that can serve the Bristol market from nearby regional data centers.
Power Analysis
Power in Bristol is both reliable and attractively priced, a key advantage for any high-density deployment. The region is served by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), one of the nation's largest and most stable public power companies.
Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity rates typically fall between $0.07 and $0.09 per kWh, as of September 2025. These competitive rates can significantly lower the total cost of ownership for compute-intensive operations. The local power mix is dominated by nuclear (48%), natural gas (~29%), and hydroelectric (~10%), as of 2023.
Power Grid Reliability: The regional power grid is well-engineered and supports the needs of industrial users. Data centers in the area benefit from reliable infrastructure designed to minimize service interruptions.
Market Access, Business & Tax Climate
Bristol offers a business-friendly environment with strategic access to a unique multi-state region, all supported by meaningful financial incentives.
Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers in Bristol are positioned to serve the Tri-Cities area, a hub for logistics, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. This proximity allows for low-latency support for critical local industries.
Regional Market Reach: From Bristol, businesses can effectively serve a large geographic area encompassing eastern Tennessee, southwest Virginia, western North Carolina, and eastern Kentucky. It is a strategic location for content delivery and application performance for this population.
Tax Advantage For Data Centers: Tennessee provides a significant sales tax exemption for the purchase of computer hardware, software, and other essential equipment for qualifying data centers. This incentive directly reduces the capital expenditure required to build out or expand a technical footprint.
Natural Disaster Risk
Bristol has a high natural disaster risk profile, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 79.7, as of September 2025. While no location is without risk, a clear understanding allows for proper mitigation and infrastructure planning.
The primary risks for data center operations in this region include severe weather events and geological factors. Key hazards to consider are Tornado, Ice Storm, Strong Wind, Riverine Flooding, and Earthquake activity. Modern, purpose-built data centers in the area are constructed to withstand these potential threats.
