Digital Realty has broken ground on its first data center in Rome, strengthening its position in delivering PlatformDIGITAL, the world’s leading connected data center platform, across the Mediterranean region.
The new facility, ROM1, will be a highly connected, carrier-neutral data center, designed to support the latest AI technologies and provide access to a broad ecosystem of global and regional connectivity providers. ROM1 will also be equipped with the capacity to support and interconnect with multiple subsea cable systems, promising to position the site as a strategic hub and gateway linking Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Strategically located within 15 kilometers of the coast, ROM1 will offer over 3MW of installed IT capacity upon completion, with future expansion under consideration across the 22-hectare site – equivalent to approximately 2.3 million square feet – making it one of the largest data center campuses in the country when fully built out.
“Rome is not only a key economic hub in Southern Europe, but also a critical entry point to the broader Mediterranean – a region that is fast emerging as a vital gateway for global connectivity,” said Alessandro Talotta, Managing Director, Digital Realty in Italy. “ROM1 represents a major milestone in our strategy to build out a dense network of highly connected, sustainable data center hubs across key growth markets, enabling our customers to scale their digital infrastructure and reach across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.”
ROM1 will complement Digital Realty’s existing presence in other key Mediterranean locations including Athens, Marseille, Zagreb, and the recently launched HER1 facility in Crete. It also paves the way for the forthcoming development of a planned new interconnection hub in Barcelona, as part of the company’s planned strategic expansion across Europe’s southern edge.
Rome, the third-largest city in the European Union and Italy’s second largest by GDP, stands as a crucial digital bridge between regional and international markets. ROM1 is expected to contribute to faster, more resilient connectivity across Southern Europe and can significantly reduce latency between northern and southern Italy, bolstering the country’s competitiveness on the global stage.
In line with Digital Realty’s global sustainability strategy, ROM1 will be matched with 100% renewable energy, supporting the company’s goal to minimize environmental impact while meeting growing demand for digital infrastructure.
The ROM1 data center is currently on schedule to be completed in 2027 and marks the first phase of a larger campus that will further help create a new digital ecosystem in Rome.
