Equinix vs Digital Realty colocation
Where each one is, how connected its buildings are, and when each fits. In 12 of our metros you can put both in the same bid.
Metro by metro
Best-connected building for each, with networks on site in brackets.
Networks, exchanges and carriers on site as listed in PeeringDB, captured 2026-10-23. Counts are self-reported by the networks and operators.
From Digital Realty's Q2 2026 filing
| Metric | Americas | All regions |
|---|---|---|
| New contracts under 1 MW, $/kW per month | $293 | $280 |
| New contracts over 1 MW, $/kW per month | $156 | $157 |
| Change in renewal rates, cash basis | +25.4% | |
| 2026 guidance, renewal rates, cash basis | +9% to +11% |
Digital Realty, second quarter 2026 results (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1), 2026-07-23. Annualized GAAP base rent per kW per month on new contracts signed in the quarter, at Digital Realty's share; renewal figures are the change in rental rates on renewals signed in the quarter.
When each one fits
Interconnection-heavy retail. If the deployment exists to reach carriers, clouds and exchanges, rank buildings by networks on site first: the table above is that ranking. A dense building turns most connections into in-building cross-connects instead of circuits.
Power-heavy and wholesale. Above about 1 MW the price per kW drops sharply: Digital Realty's own filing shows $293/kW for new Americas contracts under 1 MW against $156/kW above it. For large or GPU-dense deployments, the committed density, cooling method and delivery date matter more than the brand.
Either way, make them bid against each other. Both operators, and the facilities around them, price the same spec in one round. Every bid lands on one 36-month cost.
Put Equinix and Digital Realty in the same bid
Send your spec or the renewal notice you just received. At least three facilities that fit bid blind, and every bid comes back on one 36-month cost.
- Blind until you pick: facilities never see your name, email, company or files.
- Every bid on one basis: rent, power model, cross-connects, escalators and SLA credit caps.
- You sign direct with the facility. Participating providers pay our desk a placement commission when a buyer we introduce signs. It never changes their price or how we rank them.