Digital Realty MRS2 Marseille: Mediterranean Subsea & Interconnection Hub
Status: Operational / Active Multi-Phase Capacity Expansion | Location: 136 Chemin du Littoral, 13015 Marseille, France (Grand Port Maritime de Marseille)
Project Overview
Digital Realty’s MRS2 is a premier carrier-neutral data center strategically located within the Port of Marseille, one of Europe’s most important digital and telecommunications gateways. Offering approximately 47,000 square feet (4,400 m²) of purpose-built colocation space and delivering up to 12 MW of critical IT capacity, MRS2 forms an integral part of Digital Realty’s flagship Marseille campus, which includes MRS1 through MRS4. Together, these interconnected facilities create one of the largest and most strategically significant connectivity hubs in the Mediterranean region. Positioned at the landing point for more than 15 major submarine cable systems, MRS2 provides ultra-low-latency connectivity linking Europe with the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, making it a preferred location for global cloud providers, telecommunications carriers, content delivery networks, financial institutions, and multinational enterprises. The facility offers direct cross-connects to France-IX, one of France’s leading internet exchange points, while also enabling access to a rich ecosystem of network providers and cloud platforms through carrier-neutral interconnection services. Engineered to support next-generation digital infrastructure, MRS2 features resilient power and cooling systems, advanced physical security, and high-density liquid cooling readiness to accommodate artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and cloud workloads. Its scalable infrastructure, strategic geographic location, and extensive international connectivity make Digital Realty MRS2 a critical digital gateway for global data traffic and one of the most important interconnection facilities serving Europe, the Mediterranean, and emerging international markets.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Digital Realty MRS2 Marseille: Mediterranean Subsea & Interconnection Hub |
| Location | 136 Chemin du Littoral, 13015 Marseille, France (Grand Port Maritime de Marseille) |
| Status | Operational / Active Multi-Phase Capacity Expansion |
| Commissioning | Phase 1 Launch: Q2 2018 / Active Expansion & Modernization: 2024–2026 |
| Total IT Load | 12 MW Total Critical IT Load |
| Total Capacity | ~16+ MW Total Utility Supply across 47,000 sq ft (4,400 m²) gross technical area |
| Tier Level | Tier III Equivalent / Concurrent Maintainability (ISO 14001, ISO 22301, ISO 27001, ISO 50001, HDS Certified)Purpose-Built Interconnection, Cloud Gateway & Subsea Landing Data Center |
| Project Type | Purpose-Built Interconnection, Cloud Gateway & Subsea Landing Data Center |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
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| City Name | Marseille |
| Population | ~870,000 (city proper) |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~1.7 million |
| City GDP | Approx. $85–100 billion USD |
| Per Capita Income | ~$30,000–$35,000 USD annually |
| City Tier | Tier 2 |
| Key Strengths | Major Mediterranean port (one of Europe’s largest) |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Digital Realty |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Enedis / RTE (Electrical Utilities), Grand Port Maritime de Marseille (GPMM) |
| Construction Contractor | Specialized European Data Center EPC & Mission-Critical Contractors |
| MEP Engineering | Digital Realty Global Design & High-Density Thermal Engineering Teams |
| Network Connectivity | Direct campus dark fiber interconnects linking MRS1, MRS2, MRS3, and MRS4; direct landing access to 15+ subsea cable routes (2AFRICA, PEACE, SEA-ME-WE 5/6, AAE-1), France-IX, and DE-CIX Marseille. |
| Power Infrastructure | Dual high-voltage 20kV utility feeds from Enedis, static N+1 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) configuration, and N+1 emergency standby diesel generators with 48+ hours on-site fuel autonomy. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
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| Power Capacity | 12 MW Critical IT Power Capacity |
| UPS Redundancy | N+1 Static UPS Topology |
| Cooling System | Closed-loop chilled water systems with N+1 redundancy, air-side free cooling, hot/cold aisle containment, and liquid-to-chip direct cooling capability for high-density compute nodes. |
| Connectivity | Carrier-neutral access with multi-path fiber entry vaults, dual Meet-Me-Rooms (MMRs), and global cloud on-ramps via ServiceFabric™. |
| PUE Target | < 1.25 Annualized Operational Design PUE |
| Energy Mix | 100% matched clean renewable energy procurement supported by European Guarantees of Origin (GoO). |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | Q3 2017 |
| Construction Start | Late 2017 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Q2 2018 |
| Full Buildout | Operational / Phased Expansion 2024–2026 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | Estimated €80,000,000 EUR to €120,000,000 EUR |
| Funding | Digital Realty corporate capital expenditure (CapEx) allocation |