Wholesale Colocation Providers: 100 kW to 5 MW, Matched and Quoted Free

Most wholesale operators set their minimum at 100–250 kW of committed power, which typically corresponds to 20–50 racks at 5–8 kW per rack, or fewer racks at higher density. Some mid-market operators will consider deployments starting at 50–100 kW if the term commitment is strong (5+ years). Below that threshold, you’re in retail colocation territory (dedicated cage or multi-rack product) rather than a true wholesale suite.

In power-advantaged secondary markets (Pacific Northwest, Texas, Midwest), wholesale rates run $75–$145/kW/month at 500 kW+ scale. In primary markets (Ashburn, Silicon Valley, NYC/NJ), rates run $120–$200/kW/month. These are MRC-only figures. NRC (one-time fit-out) is quoted separately and typically adds $150–$400/kW in upfront cost depending on cooling type. All-in first-year cost per kW is significantly higher than the headline $/kW/month rate.

A powered shell delivers raw space with power and cooling infrastructure to the suite boundary. Your team installs the rack infrastructure and internal cooling distribution. A fitted suite is delivered ready for equipment. Powered shell is cheaper per kW but requires more upfront CapEx and construction management. Fitted suites cost more per kW but compress deployment timelines and reduce your capital risk.

From initial inquiry to signed contract typically runs 2–6 months for wholesale deals. The longest variable is power delivery timeline: in constrained markets, you may sign a contract and wait 6–18 months for committed power to be delivered. In secondary markets with operators who have pre-built capacity, power delivery can happen within 60–90 days of signing. Understanding the power delivery timeline, not just the contract timeline, is the critical procurement question.

Standard wholesale terms run 3–7 years, with some large deployments at 10 years. Annual escalators of 2–5% are standard; push for CPI-capped escalators. NRC is typically amortized over the term, and early exit means you owe the unamortized balance. Expansion options should be negotiated at signing: the right to take additional power at pre-agreed rates, typically within a 2–3 year window. Change-of-control provisions are important because wholesale operator M&A is frequent.

Yes, and it’s the fastest-growing segment of the wholesale market in 2026. AI wholesale deployments require 30–80 kW per rack (versus 5–15 kW for traditional enterprise), liquid cooling infrastructure (DLC or immersion), and A+B power at high density. Not all wholesale operators can support this. Many were built for 8–10 kW/rack traditional enterprise loads. We filter on AI-specific capability before shortlisting wholesale providers for GPU and training workloads.

For most enterprises, wholesale colocation is significantly cheaper than a build-to-suit or owned data center when you factor in land cost, construction timeline, utility procurement, and facility staffing. The break-even point varies by location and scale. In high-cost markets (Silicon Valley, NYC), wholesale wins economically up to very large scales. The calculus also depends on time horizon: 3–7 years strongly favors wholesale; 10+ years starts to justify owned infrastructure analysis.

Wholesale providers don’t publish pricing because every deal is negotiated individually based on power level, term length, cooling requirements, suite configuration, and market conditions. A 100 kW deployment and a 2 MW deployment with the same operator in the same market will have very different $/kW rates. This opacity is exactly why wholesale buyers benefit from broker relationships. We know what comparable deals look like and can tell you whether a quote is at market or above it.