Kao Data
UK operator with Harlow, Slough and Northolt campuses for AI and enterprise colocation, from single racks to 2.2 MW suites
Quick Overview
| Company | Harlow Operations Limited (trading as Kao Data) |
|---|---|
| Category | Colocation and Data Center Providers |
| Headquarters | Harlow, United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - United Kingdom |
| Data Location | United Kingdom |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Technology Suites of 1,100 or 2,200 kW, private cages, single racks, SLA-backed PUE of 1.2, OCP-Ready, NVIDIA DGX-Ready, 24/7 remote hands |
| Pricing | Quote on request |
| Best For | AI and HPC tenants near London that need dense halls with efficiency guarantees |
| Replaces | Equinix |
Detailed Review
Kao Data works from a campus in Harlow, with sites in Slough and Northolt (described as fully occupied) and a larger facility planned in Greater Manchester. It names more than 160 MW of IT load operational, under development or planned.
Its privacy policy identifies Harlow Operations Limited as the company behind the trading name, registered number 09227383, and the site footer gives a Harlow registered office.
Three ways to buy space
Technology Suites are designed for enterprise loads of 1,100 kW or 2,200 kW over 4,500 or 9,000 square feet of column-free space, with an SLA-backed PUE of 1.2. Private cages start at roughly 34 racks, with optional biometric locks and CCTV.
Single racks, from quarter to full and 1 to 20 kW, come through the in-house retail partner ServerChoice and are housed at KLON-01 on the Harlow campus unless requested otherwise.
Efficiency and energy claims
All colocation is stated to run on 100 percent renewable energy attributed to a specific UK asset, backed up by HVO fuel. The facilities are described as Tier 3 equivalent and concurrently maintainable.
Operations are overseen by a 24/7 team that provides ticketed remote hands.
Who stands behind it
The investors page says Kao Data is privately funded by three investors: Infratil Limited (New Zealand), Legal & General Capital (UK) and the Goldacre - Noe Group. This is the page to quote in a sovereignty review.
Limitations to Consider
Kao Data is built around large AI and enterprise deployments, and its smallest units are sold through a partner. Northolt is fully occupied, and the Manchester site was flagged as due in late 2025 on a page that has not been refreshed. Everything is in the UK, and one of the three investors is based in New Zealand. Pricing is by quote only.
Who Should Use Kao Data
AI, research and enterprise tenants around London that want a dense, efficiency-guaranteed hall with the option to start small.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- SLA-backed PUE of 1.2
- Suites, cages and single racks
- DGX-Ready and OCP-Ready halls
- Ticketed 24/7 remote hands
- Investors named openly
Cons
- UK only
- Single racks via partner
- Northolt full
- No published prices
Alternatives to Kao Data
Other European colocation and data center providers worth comparing before you decide:
NorthC
Netherlands · Regional colocation sites across NL, DE and CH
Green Mountain
Norway · Hydropower-fed Nordic racks, cages and data rooms
Datacenter United
Belgium · Belgian network of carrier-neutral sites with Tier IV design
Pulsant
United Kingdom · Regional UK colocation with an owned edge network
See all European colocation and data center providers or compare them directly against Equinix on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, through ServerChoice, its in-house retail partner, in quarter, half and full rack formats at 1 to 20 kW.
The colocation page states an SLA-backed PUE of 1.2 for its Technology Suites.
Its investors page names Infratil Limited, Legal & General Capital and the Goldacre - Noe Group.