Milan’s data centre play: A break from Europe’s overheated hubs

Europe’s largest data centre markets – Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin (FLAP-D) – have long enjoyed significant advantages.

They boast established infrastructure, abundant connectivity, and wide pools of skilled labour. Yet these attributes are showing signs of strain. Steep energy costs, environmental curbs, and fresh regulatory demands are unsettling the status quo.

Amid this mounting pressure, Milan is stepping forward. Its draw lies in government incentives, fast-growing sources of renewable power, and comparatively lower operational outlays. Estimates suggest that Italy’s data centre market could be worth USD 3.83 billion by 2029.¹ This figure underlines both the speed of its expansion and the potential hurdles for newcomers.