Brightlio Blog

Jacksonville, Florida, is a prime location for organizations seeking data center solutions. With its strategic geographical location, reduced risk of natural disasters, and growing tech community, Jacksonville colocation services offer an enticing blend of security, connectivity, and scalability.

As more businesses flock to this coastal city to bolster their data management capabilities, it’s worth delving into what makes Jacksonville’s colocation scene uniquely poised for the challenges of the digital age. Join us as we explore key reasons why Jacksonville is a great data center location.

The Geographic Advantage of a Jacksonville Data Center

Jacksonville’s geography, often celebrated for its coastal beauty, brings forth another significant advantage: It’s an excellent fit for data centers. One of the most pressing concerns for any data center is the risk of natural disasters. Jacksonville has an edge over many other Florida markets.

The city is notably less prone to hurricanes. Its northern and inland positioning provides it with a natural shield, making a Jacksonville data center comparatively more resilient. This translates to enhanced data security and reduced operational interruptions. These are essential ingredients for data center reliability.

Moreover, Jacksonville’s strategic location underscores its potential as a connectivity hub. Positioned in Central Florida between the bustling metropolis of Atlanta to the north and major markets like Tampa, Orlando, and Miami to the south, Jacksonville serves as a crucial mid-point. It’s location means a Jacksonville data center can effectively service most of the Southeast with low latency.

Advanced Telecommunications Infrastructure

Jacksonville has steadily carved a niche for itself in the realm of network connectivity infrastructure. The River City is home to renowned data center providers and a mature telecommunications infrastructure backed by major telecom players like AT&T and Comcast.

Strategically located on Central Florida’s Atlantic coast, the city serves as a pivotal junction for both terrestrial and submarine communications networks. As a landing point for three submarine cables, Jacksonville provides a critical link between the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean, ensuring high-speed and low-latency data transfers.

Three subsea cables terminate in the city:

• Confluence 1: Connects Jacksonville to Boca Raton, FL, Myrtle Beach, SC, Virginia Beach, VA, and Wall Township, NJ.

• American Movil Submarine Cable System: Connects Jacksonville to Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Brazil.

• Pacific Caribbean Cable System: Connects Jacksonville to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, Curacao, Panama, and Colombia.

A Jacksonville data center allows your enterprise to connect to customers in key markets on the Eastern seaboard of the United States, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean.

Reliable Energy Grid and Affordable Power

Jacksonville stands out not just for its geographical and telecommunication assets, but also for its robust power grid which is integral to the successful operation of data centers. The city is home to one of the largest community-owned electric utilities in the United States, Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA). This municipal utility ensures a direct hand in power generation, transmission, and distribution, allowing for a more responsive and tailored approach to the city’s energy needs.

Diversifying its power sources, including natural gas, coal, solar, and nuclear, ensures that the power supply remains consistent and resistant to outages. Furthermore, JEA’s ongoing infrastructure upgrades and maintenance investments further fortify the grid’s reliability. For a Jacksonville data center, this translates to greater power stability, reduced risk of downtime, and potentially lower energy costs.

Moreover, the lower cost of commercial power solidifies the city’s position as a preferred location for data center investments. The average industrial electricity rate is an impressive 5.91¢/kWh, which is 26.49% lower than Florida’s 8.04¢/kWh. Furthermore, when compared nationally, Jacksonville’s rate is 11.39% less than the U.S. average, with national rates fluctuating between 4.13¢/kWh and 30.82¢/kWh. Lower energy costs mean lower pricing for colocation services.

Favorable Tax Policies 

According to the Tax Foundation’s 2023 State Business Tax Climate Index, Florida ranks 4th overall in the US and 1st in the Southeast region for having the most competitive business tax system. The index measures how well states structure their tax systems and compares how each state’s tax laws affect businesses. Florida’s corporate tax rank is 7th, unemployment insurance tax rate is 2nd, and property tax rate is 9th.

In addition, there are only four states in the US that exempt electricity sales tax. They include Nevada, Texas, South Dakota, and Florida. This exemption offers cost-effective locations to operate your data center facilities. 

Leading Data Centers in Jacksonville

Below are a few Jacksonville data center providers we recommend to our clients. If you are interested in colocation pricing for these options, please contact us.

Cologix 

Cologix operates two data centers in Jacksonville. JAX1 at 421 West Church Street and JAX2 at 4800 Spring Park Road. They are each about 20 minutes from the Jacksonville International Airport. This ensures convenient access for businesses and clients. 

Moreover, Cologix has over 40 data centers, including in key markets like Ashburn, Silicon Valley, Dallas, and Toronto. This makes them an excellent national colocation strategy or edge cloud deployment partner.

Why we like Cologix:

• Robust security measures ensure data and equipment safety with 24/7 manned operations, biometric access, and stringent security layers.

• Hurricane-resistant infrastructure ensures reliability, even in extreme conditions.

• Configurable spaces include two-post racks, cabinets, cages, and private suites.

• Reliable power and cooling systems with 2N uninterruptible power, N+1 backup generator, and dry-cooled chillers.

• Multiple compliance certifications including ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI DSS.

• Network connectivity to over 30 networks in their onsite Meet-Me-Room (MMR) facilitates connections to partners and subsea dark fiber.

Flexential

Flexential’s Jacksonville data center is situated at 4905 Belfort Road. It offers a vast 35,184 sq. ft. space designed for optimal security and continuous application availability. With power density of over 150 Watts per sq. ft., they guarantee 100% SLA on power, cooling, network, and bandwidth, ensuring secure colocation, cloud, and hybrid I.T. environments.

Why we like Flexential:

• A robust network guarantees uninterrupted connectivity through a redundant 100Gbps network backbone.

• Comprehensive security measures include 24/7 personnel, dual-factor authentication access, biometric scanners, and 4-zone security access to protect data.

• Reliable infrastructure ensures uninterrupted operations with N+1 UPS redundancy, 1.39 MW critical power load UPS capacity, and N+1 reundancy on coo.

• Stringent compliance standards, including PCI DSS, are met, demonstrating a commitment to secure data hosting.

• Managed and professional services including implementation, architecture, and risk assessment.

• Operates 19 data centers nationally, expanding its footprint beyond Jacksonville to Phoenix, Kansas City, Raleigh, and San Diego.

Tierpoint

TierPoint’s Jacksonville Data Center, at 8324 Baymeadows Way, boasts a generous 120,000 sq. ft. of space. It also includes a substantial 17,200 sq. ft. of raised floor space for colocation needs. With access to a robust 9 MW of power, this facility benefits from its proximity to 10 other data center locations within a 50-mile radius.

Why we like Tierpoint:

• 15-inch reinforced concrete walls and dual power feeds ensure constant availability.

• Carrier-class and carrier-neutral facility, guaranteeing exceptional performance.

• Featuring 2N redundancy and 24×7 technical support for reliable operations.

• They undergo annual audits and hold certifications, including SOC 1 Type II, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.

Brightlio Offers Colocation Solutions in Jacksonville

Brightlio is your trusted partner if you’re searching for colocation options in Jacksonville. As a renowned telecommunications and colocation broker, Brightlio offers customized Jacksonville colocation pricing through our vast partner network. Catering to needs from single racks to private cages, we connect you with providers that surpass your expectations.

Beyond colocation, we specialize in cloud solutions, network connectivity, unified communications, and advisory services. With Brightlio, you can access a comprehensive technology solution designed to elevate your business. We’re dedicated to being your most dependable and responsive technology solutions partner.

Request a quote today!