Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz

What Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz does

Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz AG (RZO) is a Swiss colocation data center operator headquartered in the St. Gallen region, with twin facilities in Gais (Appenzell Ausserrhoden) and Gossau (St. Gallen). The company was established as Datacenter Ostschweiz AG in 2017 and began operations in 2018, rebranding to RZO AG in 2020. It is jointly owned by two regional utilities — St. Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke AG (SAK) and St. Galler Stadtwerke (sgsw) — embedding RZO within the regional energy ecosystem. The infrastructure comprises 300 racks across two sites with 1,500 kW of IT load capacity, certified TIER IV (99.998% uptime) and ISO 27001, and a disclosed Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.15 — among the most efficient data center facilities in Switzerland. Waste heat from the Gais site is reused in the local district heating network.

RZO's product portfolio spans multiple tiers, including a KMU Komplettpaket (SMB complete package) starting at CHF 342 per month, Rack Space for dedicated deployments, Lounge and Carrier interconnection products, and a Google Cloud Interconnect on-ramp via the iWay partnership. The platform is carrier-neutral, with iWay, SolNet, GAS&COM, MTF, and Netrics present on-site, enabling tenants to procure redundant connectivity and managed-cloud services directly. The customer base of approximately 75 tenants spans cantonal government (EKT AG / Canton of Thurgau, AR Informatik AG), financial-services IT (Inventx), academia (University of St. Gallen HPC cluster), carriers, and long-tail SMBs. Notable contractual anchors include a CHF 3.9 million, 10-year agreement with EKT AG for the Canton of Thurgau.

The business model is straightforward infrastructure-as-a-service: recurring colocation rack fees, power charges, and interconnection/cross-connect fees, supplemented by partnership-referred managed services. As a utility-backed operator, RZO benefits from structurally low and stable power costs, regulatory alignment with Swiss data sovereignty requirements, and shared back-office functions with its parent utilities. Disclosed headcount of 1–10 employees reflects a lean operating model that leverages automation, the utility parents' shared services, and partner-led managed services for customer-facing operations.

Name

Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz

Legal name

Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz AG

Website

https://rechenzentrum-ostschweiz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz (RZO) is a Swiss utility-backed colocation operator running TIER IV, ISO 27001-certified twin data centers in Gais and Gossau, serving cantonal government, financial-services IT, academia, and SMB tenants across Eastern Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Colocation Data Center Services

NAICS

Other Warehousing and Storage (493190)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Colocation (Multi-Tenant Data Centers) (HDABACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Managed Colocation & Remote Hands Services (HDABACAD)

Keywords

• TIER IV colocation
• Data center services
• Carrier-neutral colocation
• IT infrastructure outsourcing
• Swiss data sovereignty

Headquarters

HQ city

Gallen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Colocation Rack Services: Rental of rack space (1/3, 2/3, or full racks) at two TIER IV-certified data center locations in Gais and Gossau, Switzerland. Includes redundant power supply, carrier connectivity, and physical security. Revenue is recurring, based on rack size and power consumption.
2. Rack Lounge (Dedicated Cage): Dedicated enclosed section within the data center for customers requiring isolated, private colocation space. Suitable for enterprises and public institutions.
3. KMU Komplettpaket: All-inclusive package for SMEs providing rack space, power, internet connectivity, and security at a fixed monthly price, enabling smaller businesses to access enterprise-grade infrastructure.
4. Carrier Rack: Low-cost rack solutions for telecom carriers and ISPs to host their equipment and serve their customers within the data center.
5. Cross-Connect & Connectivity Services: Physical interconnection services between customers and carriers within the data center, including dedicated internet feeds and fiber cross-connects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz AG (RZO) operates TIER IV-certified colocation data centers at two locations in Gais (AR) and Gossau (SG), Switzerland. The company rents rack space (1/3, 2/3, or full racks), dedicated cages (Rack Lounge), carrier racks, and an SME all-inclusive package (KMU Komplettpaket), with redundant power, carrier-neutral connectivity from multiple ISPs, biometric security, and 99.998% uptime availability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KMU Komplettpaket All-inclusive colocation package for small and medium-sized enterprises, providing rack space (1/3, 2/3, or full rack), redundant power supply from 0.5 kW, 365 kWh electricity, internet connectivity, and security starting at 342 CHF per month at the Gais data center.
• Rack Space Full-rack colocation service available at both Gais and Gossau locations, providing 47 height units (HE), redundant connection power from 1.0 kW, dedicated internet feed, and access to multiple carriers.
• Rack Lounge Private, dedicated enclosed cage within the data center with a minimum of 6 racks, offering isolated private colocation space with custom power, cooling, and security configurations for enterprises and public institutions.
• Carrier Rack Low-cost rack solution for telecom carriers and ISPs, available in 1/3, 2/3, or full rack (47 HE) sizes, with redundant power from 0.5 kW and 2 carrier connections/X-Connects included, available at both Gais and Gossau locations.
• Cross-Connect and Connectivity Services Physical interconnection services between customers and carriers within the data center, including dedicated internet feeds, fiber cross-connects, and access to multiple ISPs (iWay AG, SolNet, GAS&COM AG, Init7) for diverse and georedundant connectivity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.998% availability (TIER IV standard)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MTF Solutions AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 July 2024MTF Solutions AG, a leading Swiss Private Cloud provider with 40+ years of experience and over 1,000 customers, partners with RZO to expand its multi-cloud infrastructure into Eastern Switzerland. RZO becomes part of MTF's georedundant cloud ecosystem (75 km distance between sites). MTF offers managed services for SMEs and enterprises from RZO.
• EKT AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 March 2024EKT AG (a leading IT services company) contracted 23 racks (21 in a Rack Lounge plus 2 Carrier Racks) to serve the Canton of Thurgau's public administration (AFI). This represents the largest single contract for RZO, worth approximately CHF 3.9 million over 10 years. The partnership positions RZO at ~60% capacity utilization.
• St. Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke AG (SAK)coreOthers · 5 March 2024SAK is the parent company/co-owner of Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz AG. As a regional energy utility, SAK provides RZO with access to renewable energy (hydropower, photovoltaic), real estate, and infrastructure. SAK also drives customer referrals through its customer base and business network in Eastern Switzerland.
• SolNet (BSE Software GmbH)coreTechnology or Integration · 26 February 2024SolNet, a Swiss ISP with over 25 years of activity and its own IP backbone, became a carrier in RZO in February 2024. Provides internet, network, and connectivity services to RZO customers, connecting them via SolNet's backbone to major European Internet Exchange Points.
• projekt7 agminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2023projekt7 ag, an Abacus ERP partner based in Wittenbach, uses a 1/3 rack at RZO since summer 2023 to host its own server infrastructure, replacing an on-premise server room.
• GAS&COM AGcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023GAS&COM AG operates two redundant POPs in RZO, providing fiber connectivity services including DWDM (up to 400 Gbps), Ethernet, Internet, DDoS protection, and Cloud Connect to all major clouds. Partnership announced March 2024, active since 2023.
• iWay AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2021iWay AG is a Platinum partner (highest tier) of RZO since October 2021. As a leading Swiss ISP, iWay provides rackspace, servers, virtual environments, IP transit, and transport services to RZO customers from the facility. iWay is also a subsidiary of SAK.
• peaknetworks Hosting GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2021peaknetworks, a hosting provider from Innsbruck (Austria) with DACH-region customers, has been Platinum partner since July 2022. Operates HP Enterprise servers and Arista 40 Gbps network at RZO for eco-friendly hosting services.
• hosttech GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2021hosttech GmbH, one of Switzerland's largest ISPs (60,000+ customers, 5,000+ servers), uses RZO as a second Swiss location for its Virtual Datacenter cloud platform, providing multi-location hosting within Switzerland.
• Ventus AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2020Ventus AG, a European cloud provider headquartered in Seewen SZ, uses RZO as its Swiss infrastructure node for industrial cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, Kubernetes). Positions RZO as an alternative to American hyperscalers for European industrial companies.
• AGIBA IT Services AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020AGIBA IT Services AG, founded 1993, became an official RZO partner in 2020. Delivers cloud services to diverse industry customers via RZO infrastructure, using flexible rack configurations. Also recommends RZO to its own customer base.
• Inventx AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Inventx AG, the leading IT and digitization partner for Swiss financial and insurance companies, operates a Private Rack Lounge in RZO as the third data center for its ix.Cloud platform, complementing Chur and St. Gallen locations.
• AR Informatik AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020AR Informatik AG (ARI), the IT services provider for the Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden government, operates 12 racks in its own dedicated cage at RZO since January 2020, supporting 3,000 government users.
• TON Total Optical Networks AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020TON Total Optical Networks AG, a leading MSP and ICT provider for Eastern Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Vorarlberg, has been a Platinum partner since 2020. Operates its own redundant POP in RZO for fiber backbone extension, providing connectivity up to 400 Gbps.
• avaris/IT AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2019avaris/IT AG, an IT service provider with 50+ professionals across multiple Eastern Swiss locations, uses 8 racks in RZO for customer infrastructure since 2019. Manages customer workloads from RZO while focusing on platforms and applications.
• KF data AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2018KF data AG (from Rebstein, SG) uses RZO to deliver cloud services under the 'rhy.cloud' brand to businesses in the St. Gallen Rheintal. Rack space was tripled as of 2020. KF data also refers its customers to RZO.
• LEXO GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017LEXO, based in Teufen, has been with RZO since its opening in 2017 (first customer). Hosts both its own and customer IT infrastructure at RZO with 24/7 access.
• St. Galler Stadtwerke (sgsw)coreOthersSt. Galler Stadtwerke (sgsw) is the second co-owner of Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz AG. As the city utility of St. Gallen, sgsw contributes to RZO's ownership structure and regional energy infrastructure access.
• Columba Informatik AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColumba Informatik AG from Rorschach, with 30+ years of experience, partners with RZO to offer network and infrastructure solutions to its customers, extending their managed services portfolio with high-availability hosting.
• GMG AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGMG AG from Eschen (Liechtenstein), specializing in IT, Web & Media solutions, partners with RZO as a secure hosting location for customer projects, applications, and data.
• KRAFTWERK H AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKRAFTWERK H AG from Au SG, formed by merging HARZL ICT and KF data, offers cloud and managed services from RZO leveraging the partnership with SAK and RZO for ICT services for SMEs in the region.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Safe Host SA: Swiss colocation operator with a major facility in Gland (VD), serving financial services, public sector, and enterprise customers with carrier-neutral multi-tenant data center services. Directly comparable in product offering, though focused on Western Switzerland.
• cloudscale.ch AG: Swiss IaaS provider operating its own data center footprint in Switzerland with a sovereignty-first value proposition. Comparable to RZO in targeting Swiss SMEs and enterprises needing compliant, locally hosted cloud and infrastructure.
• Green Datacenter AG: Swiss colocation provider operating data centers in Lupfig (AG). Closest like-for-like domestic competitor with comparable focus on Swiss-based, sustainability-positioned multi-tenant colocation serving SMEs, enterprises, and public sector customers.
• Infomaniak Network SA: Swiss cloud and hosting provider operating its own data centers in Geneva, with a strong sovereignty and renewable-energy positioning. Comparable to RZO in selling Swiss-sovereign infrastructure to SMEs and regulated customers, though more cloud/hosting than pure colocation.

Regional players

• MTF Solutions AG: Swiss private cloud and managed-services provider headquartered in Eastern Switzerland. Both a customer/partner of RZO and a partial competitor; MTF operates its own multi-cloud ecosystem and serves SMEs and mid-market, overlapping with RZO's customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Amazon Web Services (Switzerland region): Public-cloud hyperscaler with a Swiss region in Zurich. Represents the largest competitor to RZO for SME and enterprise workloads where sovereign colocation must compete on price, scale, and ecosystem depth against cloud-native services.
• Digital Realty (Switzerland, formerly Interxion): Global data center operator with Swiss facilities in Zurich and Geneva (formerly Interxion). Offers carrier-neutral colocation and interconnection comparable to RZO's model, but at significantly larger scale and with broader geographic reach.
• NTT Global Data Centers (Switzerland): Hyperscale-grade colocation provider with Swiss data center capacity in Zurich/Rueschlikon. Competes for enterprise and hyperscaler workloads requiring Swiss presence, with deeper capital base and broader international footprint than RZO.
• Equinix (Switzerland): Global colocation giant with multiple Zurich and Geneva IBX data centers. Overlaps with RZO on multi-tenant colocation and carrier-neutral interconnection but serves much larger enterprise, hyperscaler, and network-operator customers across broader geographies.
• Microsoft Azure (Switzerland regions): Public-cloud hyperscaler with Swiss-region data centers in Zurich and Geneva. Competes with RZO for sovereign and regulated workloads, and is the primary repatriation alternative that RZO positions against in its sovereign-colocation messaging.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rechenzentrum Ostschweiz