Data Centres in Frankfurt, Germany: Key Players and Strategic Moves
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Frankfurt has emerged as a critical data centre hub in Europe, thanks to its central location, reliable infrastructure, and role as a major financial and digital gateway. As demand for cloud services, edge computing, and AI workloads grows, companies are aggressively investing in data centre infrastructure in the region. This article explores the data centre players operating in Frankfurt, Germany, based on project-level data. We analyse their strategic moves, capacity expansion, and the broader trends shaping this high-growth market.
Table of Contents
Data Centres in Frankfurt
Equinix Data Centres
Equinix stands as a leading data centre provider in Frankfurt, operating a network of facilities that cater to a diverse range of clients, from enterprises to hyperscale cloud providers. Here’s an overview of their Frankfurt operations:
Frankfurt is home to DE-CIX, one of the world’s largest internet exchange points. Equinix’s Frankfurt data centres are directly connected to DE-CIX, ensuring low-latency and high-speed connectivity. Equinix operates multiple data centres in Frankfurt, each designed to meet specific client needs:
- FR1: Located at Taubenstraße 7-9, this facility offers 18,546 sq ft of colocation space with a power capacity of 1.8 MW.
- FR2: Situated at Kruppstraße 121-127, FR2 provides 244,394 sq ft of colocation space and 25 MW of power capacity.
- FR4: Located at Lärchenstraße 110, FR4 offers 91,526 sq ft of colocation space with an 8 MW power capacity.
- FR5: At Kleyerstraße 90, this facility provides 34,336 sq ft of colocation space and a 3 MW power capacity.
- FR11x (xScale): Located at Friesstraße 7, FR11x is part of Equinix’s xScale portfolio, offering 89,061 sq ft of space and 28 MW of power capacity.
- FR9x (xScale): Situated at Friesstraße 22, FR9x complements the xScale offerings, though specific capacity details are not publicly disclosed.
Equinix’s xScale data centres, such as FR11x and FR9x, are specifically designed to meet the needs of hyperscale companies. These facilities offer:
- High Power Capacity: With FR11x providing 28 MW, these centres cater to the intensive power requirements of large-scale cloud providers.
- Scalability: xScale facilities are built to support rapid expansion, aligning with the growth trajectories of hyperscale clients.
NTT Global Data Centres in Frankfurt
NTT operates four major data centres in the Frankfurt region, each tailored for enterprise and hyperscale needs:
- Frankfurt 1 (FRA1) – ~50,000 m² of space; multiple buildings with 8–12 MW IT load each; NTT’s flagship German site.
- Frankfurt 2 (FRA2) – A compact site with 1,500+ m² and 1.1 MW IT load, located in eastern Frankfurt.
- Frankfurt 3 (FRA3) – ~28,300 m² of space in Rüsselsheim; 9–12 MW per building; Tier 3 certified.
- Frankfurt 4 (FRA4) – Newest and largest single-site build at 32,900 m² and 82.3 MW IT load; designed for AI and cloud scale workloads.
Estimated total IT capacity across Frankfurt: 110–120+ MW, with over 112,000 m² of operational and expanding data floor space.
Future Plans (Next 5 Years)
- FRA1 has ongoing construction (4,300 m² IT space under buildout).
- FRA4, labelled as the “home of AI and cloud computing,” reflects a strategic shift toward supporting high-density, next-gen workloads.
- While no new campus announcements are made, NTT is scaling its Frankfurt footprint through modular and phased buildouts.
Capacity Expansion Outlook
- FRA4 alone adds 82.3 MW, showing a major leap in NTT’s Frankfurt offering.
- Combined with FRA1’s ongoing construction and scalable designs at FRA3, NTT is likely to expand well beyond 120 MW in the region over the next 3–5 years.
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Iron Mountain Data Centres in Germany (FRA-2) – Frankfurt
Iron Mountain operates two major data centres in Germany, Frankfurt—FRA-1 and FRA-2—with a combined capacity of 37.6 MW, both powered entirely by renewable energy. FRA-1 sits on a fully built 2.6-hectare greenfield site, while FRA-2 offers enterprise and hyperscale-ready space in a prime industrial park. The documents do not indicate any specific expansion plans, future land acquisitions, or additional capacity targets for the next five years. Additionally, no operational or regulatory challenges are referenced in the available materials, suggesting stable operations at both sites.
Location & Overview
- Located in Am Martinszehnten Industrial Park, close to Frankfurt city centre and airport.
- Facility Size: 38,500 m² campus
- Power Capacity: 10.6 MW total IT load
- Designed for both enterprise and hyperscale deployments.
Total Capacity in Frankfurt
- One facility (FRA-2) with a total of 10.6 MW IT load.
- Each data hall offers approximately. 2,350 m², with up to 20 kW per rack supported.
- Cold aisle containment and N+2 cooling redundancy ensure efficient operations.
Plans for Frankfurt or Nearby Over Next 5 Years
- The FRA-2 site is built to scale with flexible, modular space offerings.
- While no additional sites are publicly announced yet, Iron Mountain positions FRA-2 to serve long-term enterprise and cloud growth in Frankfurt.
- Its location near DE-CIX, Frankfurt’s major internet exchange, reinforces Iron Mountain’s intent to stay central to the region’s interconnection and colocation ecosystem.
Vantage Data Centres – Scale and Execution
Vantage Data Centres has a prominent footprint in Frankfurt. This is one of the largest single-site investments among its competitors. Vantage operates two major campuses in Frankfurt:
- Frankfurt I Campus (Offenbach area):
- 56 MW of IT load capacity
- 3 multi-story data centres
- 452,000 sq. ft. of leasable space
- Frankfurt II Campus:
- 56 MW of IT load capacity
- 2 data centres
- 485,000 sq. ft. total area
Currently, the company is operating 116MW of data centre in the city. However, given Vantage’s standard 64–150+ MW per campus model and their focus on modular expansion, it’s reasonable to infer additional phases or expansions may push Frankfurt’s footprint toward or beyond 150 MW by 2030.
Strict environmental regulations, especially around water and energy usage, necessitate innovation in cooling design (Vantage uses closed-loop systems). However, Vantage is committing to net zero emissions by 2030, which requires aligning Frankfurt’s operations with aggressive energy efficiency targets.
Yondr data centres in Frankfurt – Ambitious Entrant with High-Capacity Plans
Yondr, a relatively new entrant in the Frankfurt data centre scene, has announced plans to develop a 40 MW facility. Yondr Group is developing a data centre in Bischofsheim, near Frankfurt, with a planned total capacity of 40 megawatts (MW). As of December 2024, the company has completed and handed over the first 20 MW, marking the completion of the initial two phases of a four-phase project. Additionally, Yondr has expressed intentions to invest further in the German market, indicating potential future developments in Frankfurt or nearby regions.
Maincubes Data Centres in Frankfurt – Expansion from a Local Base
Maincubes has been building out space and enhancing existing facilities to keep pace with growing customer needs. As a local player, Maincubes may benefit from regulatory familiarity and operational agility. Maincubes operates and is developing multiple data centres in the Frankfurt region:
- FRA01 (Offenbach): Operational since 2018, this four-story facility is TÜV Certified Level 3 (Highly Available). Specific capacity details are not publicly disclosed.
- FRA02 (Schwalbach): Provides approximately 7,000 m² of white space and has a power capacity of 20 MW.
- FRA03 (Schwalbach): Offers 16 MW of IT capacity and 7,680 m² of IT space. Construction began in Q4 2024, with full completion expected by 2026/27
- FRA04 (Dietzenbach): Planned to provide 36 MW of IT capacity and 10,000 m² of whitespace. Construction is underway, with the facility expected to be ready for service in Q1 2029.
Total Capacity: Including the disclosed capacities, Maincubes’ Frankfurt-area data centres will offer at least 72 MW of IT capacity upon completion of FRA04.
Mainova Data centres : New Build Activity Underway
Mainova, primarily known as a utility company, is expanding into the data centre space. The firm is actively building a new data centre in Frankfurt. Mainova WebHouse is developing multiple data centre projects in the Frankfurt region:
- MWH01 (Seckbach, Frankfurt): A 30 MW data centre campus comprising two buildings—one with 20 MW and another with 10 MW capacity. The first building (20 MW) is operational, with the second (10 MW) under construction.
- MWH02 (Langen): A planned 20 MW facility south of Frankfurt.
- Ostend/Osthafen Project: A joint venture with Tishman Speyer to develop a 32 MW data centre, expandable to 70 MW.
Total Planned Capacity: Up to 120 MW in the Frankfurt area.
Other companies are also playing a major role in the data centre industry in Frankfurt. We will not discuss all the companies here. Please contact the below for regular updates.
Key Trends and Market Insights
- Capacity Concentration: Vantage and Yondr lead in terms of disclosed megawatt capacity, indicating a tilt towards hyperscale deployments.
- Local vs. Global Players: While global entrants like Vantage and Yondr aim for scale, local operators like Maincubes and Mainova pursue incremental growth and strategic expansion.
- Acquisitions as a Strategy: Firms such as Datacentre One, Firstcolo, and Deutsche Beteiligungs are using acquisitions to quickly establish or expand their market footprint.
- Infrastructure Convergence: Mainova’s entry shows that utility companies are viewing data centres as a logical extension of their core competencies.
- Development Pipeline: Multiple entries indicate projects in planning or early construction phases, pointing to strong momentum in the market.
Frankfurt data centres market
Frankfurt data centres market is witnessing diverse strategies: large-scale builds, acquisitions, and greenfield developments. The region’s strategic relevance, combined with growing digital demands, makes it a focal point for investment. Companies like Vantage and Yondr are setting the pace with high-capacity deployments, while others are carving niches through specialisation or financial leverage. As regulatory pressures, energy constraints, and digital transformation evolve, these players will shape the next phase of Frankfurt’s data centre growth story.
AI-ready data centers in Frankfurt
The Frankfurt data center market is expected to experience significant expansion between 2025 and 2030, driven by sustained demand from hyperscale cloud providers, AI workloads, and enterprise digital transformation across Europe. As one of the FLAP (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris) markets, Frankfurt benefits from robust infrastructure, strategic geographic location, and proximity to DE-CIX, the world’s largest internet exchange.
The market is seeing strong investment from global players like Equinix, NTT, Vantage, and Iron Mountain, as well as local operators such as Mainova and Maincubes. With rising energy and land constraints within the city, future growth is expected to push toward suburban areas like Hattersheim, Dietzenbach, and Rüsselsheim.