Digital Realty Enters Turkey via Joint Venture with Rönesans, Plans 22MW Ankara Data Center

Digital Realty has announced its entry into the Turkish market through a joint venture with Rönesans Infrastructure, one of Türkiye's largest investment companies, marking a significant expansion by the global colocation giant into one of the region's most closely watched emerging digital infrastructure markets. The partnership will focus on developing and operating next-generation data centers across the country, with the joint venture's first project being a 22MW data center campus in Ankara.

Land, power, and permitting for the Ankara facility have already been secured, and early construction work has commenced, according to the companies. The campus is scheduled for completion in 2028. While full details of the project have not been disclosed, the joint venture is also planning to develop a second site in Istanbul, though further specifics were not shared.

The move comes as Turkey's data center market continues to attract both local and international interest. According to Data Center Map, the country currently hosts 81 data centers across 17 markets, with the majority concentrated in Istanbul and secondary hubs in Ankara and Izmir. Most facilities are owned and operated by domestic players, with Equinix standing out as the most notable international operator with several sites around Istanbul. More recently, Damac launched a facility in Izmir alongside Vodafone, underscoring growing momentum in the market.

"We are delighted to partner with Rönesans Infrastructure to establish Digital Realty's presence in Türkiye, one of the most compelling emerging digital infrastructure market opportunities in the region," said Greg Wright, chief investment officer at Digital Realty. "By combining Rönesans' deep expertise and development capabilities with Digital Realty's global platform, customer relationships and operational experience, this joint venture is well positioned to support growing demand for cloud, AI and enterprise infrastructure while creating a strong foundation for long-term growth across Türkiye."

Rönesans Holding, founded in 1993, is a Turkish contracting and investment company with operations spanning construction, real estate development, energy, industrial facilities, and healthcare. Erman ılıcak, President Emeritus of Rönesans Holding, noted that the company has delivered more than $10 billion of private sector investment in Türkiye, adding: "Today, digital infrastructure is one of the most critical enablers of economic growth, innovation and technological progress. We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Digital Realty... together, we aim to enhance Türkiye's digital infrastructure, support its ambitions as a regional technology hub, and create sustainable value for businesses, communities and future generations."

The joint venture reflects a broader trend of international data center operators seeking footholds in high-growth emerging markets where cloud adoption, AI workloads, and enterprise digitization are driving demand for capacity. Digital Realty's entry brings a globally recognized platform and operational expertise to a market currently dominated by local players, potentially raising competitive standards and accelerating infrastructure investment across Turkey. For Rönesans, the partnership represents a strategic diversification into digital infrastructure, complementing its existing portfolio in construction, energy, and real estate.