Geneva Canton Awards $9.9 Million Data Center Contract to nLighten
May 7, 2026
Geneva Canton Awards $9.9 Million Data Center Contract to nLighten
The canton of Geneva, Switzerland, has selected European data center operator nLighten for a major colocation contract, signaling a strategic push to modernize its government IT infrastructure amid rising cybersecurity threats. The agreement, valued at CHF 7.68 million (approximately $9.9 million) over a 10-year period, will see nLighten host the IT infrastructure of the Geneva Cantonal Office for Information Systems and Digital Technology (OCSIN) in a facility that meets Tier III standards for service continuity.
According to the tender details published by OCSIN, nLighten outperformed two other bidders during the selection process. The agency stated that nLighten fully satisfied all specified criteria, including technical, ecological, and social requirements, as well as the potential for evolving OCSIN’s needs, territorial and governance demands, and the best price. The tender specifically required that the IT infrastructure be housed in a "state-of-the-art" facility with high energy efficiency, adhering to Tier III operational standards. Additionally, the winning firm had to demonstrate its ability to offer a scalable cost model and a range of services as OCSIN's requirements grow in the future.
The award comes at a time of heightened cybersecurity pressure on OCSIN. Last year, Geneva’s state councillor Carole-Anne Kast revealed to Tribune de Genève that the agency had experienced a 38 percent increase in cybersecurity incidents targeting the canton, equivalent to 1.4 incidents per day. This context underscores the critical importance of securing reliable and resilient data center capacity for government operations.
Founded in 2023, nLighten is the digital infrastructure platform backed by U.S. investment firm I Squared Capital. The operator boasts a portfolio of 34 facilities and 22MW of compute capacity across Europe. It is already active in Geneva’s data center market, having acquired a 23,680 square foot (2,200 square meter) facility from Exa Infrastructure in 2024. The company has expanded aggressively across Europe, including the acquisition of French operator Euclyde Data Centers (taking over six facilities), a data center in Amsterdam, UK edge firm Proximity (adding ten facilities), and another facility in Paris in February.
According to DataCenterMap, the facility is among 11 data centers currently operating in Geneva. The market is expected to grow further, with a new facility by NorthC set for completion in 2028. Earlier this year, NorthC announced plans to build a 58,125 square foot (5,400 square meters) data center with 4.5MW of IT capacity in the Hive technology park, northwest of the city. This contract with nLighten not only strengthens the canton’s digital backbone but also highlights the growing demand for colocation services from government entities seeking to outsource critical infrastructure to specialized operators.
Source: datacenterdynamics
