Where your server is located determines the latency your users experience. For EU-based applications and GDPR-regulated data, it also determines which legal jurisdiction your data sits in. This page covers Contabo’s European data center locations, what the infrastructure looks like, and how to choose the right location for your workload.
Contabo’s EU Data Center: Lauterbourg, France
Contabo’s primary European hub is the Lauterbourg data center, located on the French-German border. The site was chosen specifically for its central connectivity across France, Germany, and wider Europe. Infrastructure specifications confirmed from the official announcement:
- 7 buildings with 12 MW total capacity — approximately 50,000 servers at full build-out.
- Dual independent fiber optic connections and dual independent power lines per building.
- Diesel generators and UPS on-site for emergency power.
- Solar panels covering all roofs with free air cooling — target PUE of 1.1.
- Designed with full natural disaster resilience analysis.
Selecting the EU location when provisioning a Contabo server deploys to Lauterbourg. This is the default location and carries no additional location fee — it is included in all standard plan pricing.
UK Data Center: Portsmouth, England
Contabo’s UK infrastructure is hosted in Portsmouth, England. Selecting United Kingdom in the configurator deploys to Portsmouth. A small location fee applies to the UK location on top of the base plan price, reflecting higher operating costs outside the EU.
All Contabo Locations at a Glance
Contabo operates data centers across nine regions worldwide, spanning the European Union, the United Kingdom, North America, Asia, and Oceania. The table below summarizes each region, its physical location, whether a location fee applies, and key jurisdictional notes for choosing the right region for latency and data residency needs.
| Region | Location | Location Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | Lauterbourg, France (French-German border) | Included — no extra fee | Default location; data stays in EU/GDPR jurisdiction |
| United Kingdom | Portsmouth, England | Small monthly fee | Post-Brexit; separate legal jurisdiction from the EU |
| US East | New York | Small monthly fee | Low latency for the U.S. East Coast |
| US Central | St. Louis, Missouri | Small monthly fee | Central U.S. coverage |
| US West | Seattle | Small monthly fee | West Coast and Pacific Rim latency |
| Asia | Singapore | Small monthly fee | Serves South and Southeast Asia |
| Asia | Tokyo, Japan | Small monthly fee | Serves Japan, Korea, and East Asia |
| Asia | India | Small monthly fee | Newest facility; low latency to major Indian cities |
| Oceania | Sydney, Australia | Small monthly fee | Premium connectivity across Australia |
Location list and fees last verified against Contabo’s official Data Centers Worldwide page. Fees and availability are updated periodically — confirm current figures before ordering.
Latency Expectations for European Users
Lauterbourg’s central position on the French-German border means excellent connectivity across Western and Central Europe. Expected round-trip latency from major European cities to Lauterbourg is typically under 20ms from Germany and France, under 30ms from the UK, under 40ms from Southern Europe. For applications serving European users, Lauterbourg is the lowest-latency option in Contabo’s portfolio. Contabo publishes a speed test tool — verify current latency figures at contabo.com/en-us/locations/ and link to the speed test.
GDPR and EU Data Residency
All data stored on EU-location Contabo servers stays within EU jurisdiction. This satisfies GDPR data residency requirements for most use cases — customer data, application databases, backups, and logs all remain in the EU without any additional configuration. Contabo’s Object Storage is also available in the EU at the same pricing with no data transfer to non-EU regions.
Important: data residency is a necessary but not sufficient condition for GDPR compliance. Application-level data handling, access controls, data processing agreements, and breach notification procedures are your responsibility as the data controller. Contabo as the infrastructure provider is the data processor.
FAQ: Contabo EU Data Centers
Contabo’s EU hub is in Lauterbourg, France, on the French-German border. The facility offers central connectivity across France, Germany, and wider Europe. There is no additional location fee for the EU location — it is included in all standard pricing.
Contabo’s EU location stores all data within EU jurisdiction, satisfying the data residency requirement for GDPR. Application-level GDPR compliance — data handling, subject access requests, breach notifications — remains the customer’s responsibility. Contabo can provide a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) as required under GDPR Art. 28. Verify current DPA availability at contabo.com.
Contabo is a German company (headquartered in Munich) with historical facilities in Munich and Nuremberg. The current primary EU hub for new deployments is Lauterbourg, located on the French-German border, which provides excellent connectivity throughout Germany and France. Verify current active EU location details at contabo.com/en-us/locations/.
Disclaimer: Product specifications, features, and prices mentioned in this article are subject to change and may vary by region, billing term, and active promotions. Please check each provider’s or brand’s official website for current figures, pricing, and local currency rates.
