--- title: "Data Centers 101: Technical Terms You Should Know" description: Learn the basics about data centers with this list of data center terms. image: https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/Data%20Centers%20101.png --- [![TG\_LOGO](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/TeleGeography%20Hub%20Theme%20Nov%202025/images/TG_LOGO.svg)](https://www2.telegeography.com/) - [About](https://www2.telegeography.com/about-us) - [Research](https://www2.telegeography.com/our-research) - [Products](https://www2.telegeography.com/products) - [Solutions](https://www2.telegeography.com/solutions) - [Resources](https://resources.telegeography.com) [Log In](https://www.telegeography.com/login/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegeography.com%2Faccount%2Fhome%2Findex) [Contact](https://www2.telegeography.com/contact-us) ###### Data and Analysis Tools - [Cloud and WAN Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/cloud-and-wan-infrastructure) - [Data Center Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/data-center-research-service) - [GlobalComms Database](https://www2.telegeography.com/globalcomms-database-service) - [International Voice Report](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-report-and-database) - [IP Networks Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/ip-networks-research-service) - [ISP Navigator](https://www2.telegeography.com/isp-navigatorisp-navigator) - [Transport Networks Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/transport-networks) - [Network Pricing Database](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-pricing-database) - [WAN Cost Benchmark](https://www2.telegeography.com/wan-cost-benchmark) - [Product Passes](https://www2.telegeography.com/product-passes) ###### Consulting - [All Consulting Services](https://www2.telegeography.com/consulting) - [Submarine Cable Consulting](https://www2.telegeography.com/submarine-cable-consulting) ###### Maps - [All Map Services](https://www2.telegeography.com/map-services) - [Sponsor a Map](https://www2.telegeography.com/sponsor-a-map) - [License Map Data](https://www2.telegeography.com/license-geocoded-map-data) - [Cite a Map](https://www2.telegeography.com/cite-telegeography-map) - [Buy a Map](https://shop.telegeography.com/collections/telecom-maps/) ###### Industry - [Education](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-for-education) - [Enterprise](https://www2.telegeography.com/enterprise) - [Tech](https://www2.telegeography.com/tech) - [Telecom](https://www2.telegeography.com/telecom) ###### Case Studies - [AI + Retail Telecom Data](https://www2.telegeography.com/where-to-get-global-telecom-data) - [EXA Infrastructure](https://www2.telegeography.com/exa-infrastructure-case-study) - [Orange Wholesale](https://www2.telegeography.com/orange-wholesale-case-study) - [The European Commission](https://www2.telegeography.com/the-european-commissions-data-backed-approach-to-international-policy) [Back to Resources](https://resources.telegeography.com) # Data Centers 101: Technical Terms You Should Know ##### By [Jon Hjembo,](https://resources.telegeography.com/author/jon-hjembo) Oct 27, 2026 [Networks](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/networks) [Cloud](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/cloud) [Data Centers](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/data-centers) From cross connects to PUE, the data center industry is packed with technical jargon. This post breaks down key terms related to data centers—technical terms relating to how data centers work and operator and market classification terms. Whether you're new to the field or just need a refresher, this glossary can help. ## Data center technical terms [Available Capacity](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#available-capacity) | [Cloud On-Ramps](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#cloud-on-ramps) | [Colocation Capacity](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#colocation-capacity) | [Cross Connect](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#cross-connect) | [Gross Capacity](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#gross-capacity) | [High Density](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#high-density) | [Internet Exchange](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#internet-exchange) | [Peering](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#peering) | [Power Capacity](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#power-capacity) | [PUE](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#pue) | [Rack Density](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#rack-density) | [Site Density](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#site-density) | [Transit](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#transit) Available Capacity Vacancy. The amount of fitted, leasable colocation space that is unfilled. Cloud On-Ramps Edge server locations where cloud service providers meet customers to give them dedicated, low-latency connectivity to cloud services. Colocation Capacity The amount of the data center floor space that is allocated to customer server infrastructure. This measure excludes office space, NoC, and areas for support equipment. Cross Connect A physical cable interconnecting equipment (servers, switches, routers) in a data center. Gross Capacity Total size of an operator’s data center footprint in a building. This may or may not be the full size of the building itself. If the building is a data center, then the full building size is considered the gross capacity. If it is a mixed-use facility or a carrier hotel with multiple data centers, gross capacity equates to the size of the data center operator’s own footprint within the building. High Density Rack space designated for cabinets with servers that draw more power than standard. We categorize cabinets with 10 kW density or higher as high-density. Internet Exchange (IX) A converging point for networks to maintain peering arrangements with multiple partners. Cross connects are aggregated within the IX fabric, which consists of a network of switches, so that members can expedite the process of interconnecting. Peering An arrangement in which two networks voluntarily agree to interconnect their networks for traffic exchange—typically on a settlement-free basis. Peering can take place privately over a layer 2 connection or publicly using an IX. Power Capacity The full amount of utility power allocated to the data center. We track total utility power rather than IT power, which is the amount of power allocated to servers. PUE Ratio Divides Total Facility Power (TFP) by IT Equipment Power (IEP). The PUE ratio determines the proportion of a data center’s TFP that is used specifically for servers and computer equipment. Rack Density Refers to the amount of power drawn by servers, measured at the rack level as kilowatts per rack. Site Density The ratio of facility power to data center floor space, expressed as Watts per square foot (or square meter). Transit An agreement in which a smaller network pays a larger network (the transit provider) for access to its network, peering partner networks, and downstream connections to gain connectivity to the entire internet.  ## Data center operator & market classification terms [Bandwidth Provider Colo](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#bandwidth-provider-colo) | [Carrier Neutral Colo](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#carrier-neutral-colo) | [Colocation](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#colocation) | [Hub Markets](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#hub-markets) | [Proprietary Operators](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#proprietary-operators) | [Resellers](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#resellers) | [Retail Colocation Operators](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#retail-colocation-operators) | [Secondary Markets](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#secondary-markets) | [Wholesale Operators](https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know#wholesale-operators) Bandwidth Provider Colo Bandwidth carriers who operate their own colocation facilities. These operators may operate as carrier-neutral to varying degrees, but they are carriers. TeleGeography classifies them in our database separately from carrier neutral providers for a few different reasons. First, for the purposes of aggregate market estimations. Bandwidth provider sites average much smaller size than carrier neutral sites in most markets. Secondly, because bandwidth providers generally prioritize their own carrier services in their facilities, even if they offer connectivity to a multiplicity of other competitive operators. Carrier Neutral Colo Retail colocation providers who are not carriers and who prioritize a neutral stance toward connectivity in their facilities. Colocation Colocation refers to shared data center space for power, cooling, and network interconnection. A wide diversity of entities, spanning carrier networks, content providers, private academic networks, government organizations, investment firms, and numerous other types of networks demand shared, secure space for server storage and connectivity. Hub Markets The most critical converging points of global network interconnection. Markets with the most international bandwidth and the largest interconnection facilities. Proprietary Operators Operators of their own non-colocation data centers. This category is included to track the data center developments of a select group of hyperscale content providers that have particularly high influence in the development of international network and data center infrastructure.  Resellers Operators that lease data center space from other colocation providers and then sub-lease rack space to their own customers. These operators do not own their data center infrastructure. (A number of resellers are included in our site database but are excluded from all of our analysis.) Retail Colocation Operators Operators of their own data center space who generally specialize in short-term leases to multiple tenants and lease sizes of less than half a megawatt of capacity. Prominent data center operators often manage both retail and wholesale leases, but we classify providers in one category or the other based on their primary source of revenue. Secondary Markets Markets that are not as large as global hubs but are significant interconnection points on a sub-regional level. Wholesale Operators Operators that primarily focus on longer-term, larger-scale colocation leases. Lease sizes are typically at least half a megawatt in size and lease lengths are generally 5 years or more. Prominent data center operators often manage both retail and wholesale leases, but TeleGeography classifies providers in one category or the other based on their primary source of revenue. ## Get more data on data centers ...Plus industry-leading data on the global data center market with our **[Data Center Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/data-center-research-service)** platform. We collect and analyze the telecom industry's most comprehensive intelligence on data center capacity, service providers, pricing trends, and more.   ![Jon Hjembo](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/tg-staff/jon-hjembo-telegeography.png) #### Jon Hjembo Senior Research Manager Jonathan Hjembo joined TeleGeography in 2009 and heads the company’s data center research, tracking capacity development and pricing trends in key global markets. He also specializes in research on international transport and internet infrastructure development, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe, and he maintains the dataset for TeleGeography’s website, internetexchangemap.com. [View Jon Hjembo Work](https://resources.telegeography.com/author/jon-hjembo) ## Explore Related Content ![The Data Center Sector: An Uncertain Juncture](https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/2022/Blog%20Assets/AdobeStock_231662013-1.jpeg) ###### Blog Oct 20, 2022 #### [The Data Center Sector: An Uncertain Juncture](https://resources.telegeography.com/the-data-center-sector-an-uncertain-juncture) There’s a remarkable sense of uncertainty in the data center sector right now. Some of the biggest... 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