Digital Realty FRA8 Data Center Frankfurt: Carrier-Neutral Hub on Weismüllerstraße
Status: Fully Operational Carrier-Neutral Facility | Location: Weismüllerstraße 36, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Project Overview
Digital Realty FRA8 (formerly Interxion FRA8) is a premier carrier-neutral data center strategically located at Weismüllerstraße 36 in the Ostend district of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, one of Europe's most important digital infrastructure and financial connectivity hubs. As part of Digital Realty's highly interconnected Hanauer Landstraße and Weismüllerstraße campus cluster, FRA8 plays a critical role in delivering secure, scalable, and low-latency digital infrastructure for enterprises, hyperscale cloud providers, financial institutions, telecommunications operators, content delivery networks, and public sector organizations. Purpose-built to support mission-critical applications, the facility offers flexible, high-density colocation environments capable of accommodating traditional enterprise IT alongside next-generation artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, analytics, and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. The data center is engineered with resilient electrical and mechanical infrastructure, redundant utility feeds, energy-efficient cooling systems, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, backup generators, enterprise-grade physical security, and continuous environmental monitoring to ensure maximum service availability and operational resilience. As a carrier-neutral facility, FRA8 provides direct access to an extensive ecosystem of more than 700 telecommunications carriers, internet service providers, network operators, and digital service partners, enabling customers to optimize network performance and redundancy. The facility also offers direct cross-connect connectivity to DE-CIX, one of the world's largest internet exchange points, delivering ultra-low-latency access to regional and international networks. Through Digital Realty's ServiceFabric™ platform, customers can establish secure, private connections to leading public cloud platforms including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud, enabling seamless hybrid and multi-cloud deployments. Integrated with Digital Realty's wider Frankfurt campus through high-capacity fiber infrastructure, FRA8 supports scalable interconnection, business continuity, and digital transformation initiatives. By combining advanced colocation capabilities, extensive network density, and world-class cloud connectivity, Digital Realty FRA8 provides a future-ready digital infrastructure platform that supports the continued growth of cloud computing, AI innovation, financial services, and enterprise digital transformation across Germany and Europe.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Digital Realty FRA8 Data Center Frankfurt: Carrier-Neutral Hub on Weismüllerstraße |
| Location | Weismüllerstraße 36, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
| Status | Fully Operational Carrier-Neutral Facility |
| Commissioning | Operational (Legacy Interxion FRA8 facility) |
| Total IT Load | ~6 MW to 10 MW Critical IT Power Capacity Allocation |
| Total Capacity | ~4,500 m² (~48,437 sq ft) gross facility footprint / ~2,500 m² colocation whitespace |
| Tier Level | Tier III Equivalent Design / ISO 27001, ISO 22301, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, SOC 1 Type II, SOC 2 Type II, PCI-DSS Compliant |
| Project Type | Purpose-Built Multi-Tenant Carrier-Neutral Data Center & Cloud Interconnection Hub |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Frankfurt |
| Population | 7,80,000 |
| Urban Agglomeration | 5.8 million |
| City GDP | €160.8 billion |
| Per Capita Income | $101,000 USD |
| City Tier | Tier 1 |
| Key Strengths | Hosting DE-CIX, the worlds largest Internet Exchange Point; financial capital of the Eurozone; strict sustainability mandates driving innovation. |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Digital Realty |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Mainova AG Utility Network & Stadt Frankfurt am Main Municipal Authorities |
| Construction Contractor | Specialized European Mission-Critical General EPC Contractors |
| MEP Engineering | Digital Realty Engineering & Global Technical Operations Teams |
| Network Connectivity | Carrier-neutral facility featuring dual path-diverse subterranean fiber entrances, redundant Meet-Me-Rooms (MMRs), direct access to 700+ network service providers, and direct fiber interconnects to DE-CIX Frankfurt. |
| Power Infrastructure | Dual high-voltage utility grid feeds from Mainova AG, 2N static uninterruptible power supply (UPS) modules, automated switchgear, and N+1 multi-megawatt standby emergency diesel generator arrays with 72-hour on-site fuel autonomy. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | ~8 MW to 12 MW Secured Utility Power Allocation |
| UPS Redundancy | 2N Static UPS Architecture |
| Cooling System | Closed-loop chilled water cooling plant, N+1 chillers, free-cooling air economizers, hot/cold aisle containment, Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling (DLC) readiness, and automated BMS environmental controls. |
| Connectivity | ServiceFabric™, Cross Connects, Direct Cloud Connect (AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, Google Cloud Interconnect), and direct high-speed fiber campus links to FRA1 through FRA17 facilities. |
| PUE Target | < 1.25 Annualized Operational Design PUE |
| Energy Mix | 100% Renewable Energy coverage backed by European Guarantees of Origin (GoOs) and regional solar/wind Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | 2012–2013 |
| Construction Start | 2013–2014 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Operational |
| Full Buildout | Fully Operational Active Facility |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
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| Total Investment | Estimated €60,000,000 EUR+ Facility Capital Expenditure |
| Funding | Corporate Capital Expenditure (Digital Realty Trust, Inc.) |