A carrier-neutral data center gives enterprises more choices—across carriers, clouds, and connectivity options. Meter Cellular supports that freedom with CBRS neutral host solutions that extend coverage, boost flexibility, and support modern network needs.

You'll find this guide covers the benefits and key tips for making the right choice.

What is a carrier-neutral data center?

A carrier-neutral data center is a colocation facility that lets you connect to multiple network providers. Unlike carrier-owned sites, you're not limited to one internet service or telecom vendor. You colocate your hardware, then decide which carrier handles your data traffic.

Most neutral facilities include:

• Cross-connects that link your hardware directly to the providers you choose
• Meet-me rooms that simplify connections between tenants and carriers
• Access to IXPs, CDNs, and public cloud platforms for faster routing and distribution

Having multiple providers on-site means less dependence on any single one. Enterprises gain more control over traffic routes, latency, and uptime. It's one of the main reasons businesses move away from traditional telco data centers.

Carrier-neutrality simply means you’re not stuck. You can choose who handles your network traffic today—and change it if needed tomorrow.

What’s the difference between carrier-neutral and non-neutral colocation?

Carrier-neutral colocation gives you control over who provides your internet and network services. You place your hardware in the data center, then choose from multiple carriers on-site. That freedom allows you to prioritize performance, cost, and redundancy based on your needs.

Non-neutral colocation limits that flexibility. In most cases, the facility is owned or operated by a telecom provider. You’re often locked into their service, with little ability to change carriers without physically relocating your infrastructure.

Not all colocation is created equal. The benefits you get depend heavily on whether you can connect to more than one provider inside the facility.

See how the features of carrier-neutral vs. non-neutral colocation compare in this chart:

Key differences between carrier-neutral and non-neutral colocation

Neutral sites are designed for growth. When you’re planning for future expansion, cloud connectivity, or diverse routing, being able to pick your provider matters a lot more than it might seem at first glance.

How carrier-neutral colocation works

You colocate your equipment, choose from a list of available carriers, and establish direct connections to their networks using cross-connects. That setup gives you full control over how your traffic flows in and out of the facility.

From deployment to connection

Getting set up in a carrier-neutral data center is a clear process. You install your equipment, choose your providers, and connect through cross-connects. Every step gives you more control over how your network runs.

Step 1: Deploy your equipment in the data hall

Your servers, switches, and other gear are installed in a secure rack or private cage. Most companies send in their own team or work with the facility’s technicians to handle the install.

Step 2: Connect to power and building systems

Each rack connects to two power feeds for backup and stability. The facility also includes cooling and environmental controls like temperature and airflow sensors to protect your equipment.

Step 3: Order cross-connects to your carriers

You fill out a request with the facility to run cables from your rack to the carriers you want to use. Most use fiber cables. Some sites also offer virtual connections that can be turned on faster.

Step 4: Turn up service with your carrier

Once the connection is in place, your chosen provider activates service. That can include internet access, private network links, or cloud services like AWS or Azure. You may also connect to other tenants or CDNs.

Step 5: Set up routing and backup paths

Your network team decides how traffic should flow. You can use routing protocols like BGP or tools like SD-WAN to balance traffic or set failover paths. Many businesses use more than one carrier to stay online during outages.

Step 6: Monitor and scale as needed

You can add more connections, swap providers, or bring in cloud links without moving your gear. The ability to adapt is a key reason why enterprises prefer neutral data centers.

Why facility standards matter

Uptime Institute Tier certifications tell you how reliable the facility is:

• Tier III: You can maintain systems without downtime.
• Tier IV: Protect yourself against failures, with backup power and cooling for every system.

Facilities that meet these standards are better for hosting systems that need high availability. When you combine that with carrier choice, you get a setup that’s flexible, durable, and ready to grow.

Carrier-neutral data center benefits

Choosing a carrier-neutral facility changes how your network runs—and how fast it can evolve. It’s not just about connectivity. It’s about control, cost, and long-term planning.

Network flexibility

You’re not locked into one carrier. You can choose based on price, route diversity, or performance. One provider might be better for cloud access. Another might offer better pricing in certain regions. Neutral sites let you mix and match as needed.

You can also test new providers without disruption. That helps future-proof your network for expansion or shifts in traffic.

Cost optimization

Having multiple providers on-site keeps pricing competitive. You’re free to negotiate terms and walk away if a deal no longer fits. Many enterprises see long-term savings by avoiding bundled services or overpriced cross-connect fees that are common in single-carrier sites.

There’s also more control over network capacity planning. You can scale bandwidth up or down without renegotiating contracts from scratch.

Resilience and redundancy

No single provider means no single point of failure. If one carrier has an outage, you can fail over to another.

Neutral sites make it easier to build dual-path or multi-path setups. You can also route traffic based on latency or availability, not just fixed routes. That redundancy supports better network risk assessment planning and lowers the impact of outages.

Low latency and better performance

Most neutral data centers sit close to internet exchange points (IXPs). That gives you direct paths to major carriers, cloud providers, and CDNs.

Shorter routes mean fewer hops, which improves speed for cloud apps, real-time tools, and user-facing platforms. This proximity also reduces jitter and packet loss, which matters for voice, video, and transactional systems.

Ease of scalability

You can bring in new providers or services without major rework. There’s no need to move racks or rewire everything to change how traffic flows. That makes it easier to adopt a hybrid cloud, shift to multi-region services, or support new compliance needs.

Facilities that support network isolation also help protect sensitive systems while scaling outward.

Direct cloud connectivity

Many neutral facilities support private cloud on-ramps like AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, and Google Cloud Interconnect. That lets you bypass the public internet entirely for cloud workloads, which can improve speed and security.

You also gain more control over how cloud traffic is routed and billed, which can help with compliance and cost tracking.

Support for hybrid and multi-cloud networking

Most enterprises don’t stick to one cloud. Neutral facilities let you connect to multiple platforms from one location.

If you’re running apps in AWS, databases in Azure, and backups in Google Cloud, a neutral data center gives you fast access to all three—without extra middlemen. This model also supports enterprise network infrastructure that spans on-prem and cloud services.

Better disaster recovery options

Because you can use multiple carriers and regions, you can build disaster recovery (DR) plans with real geographic diversity.

Data can be routed out through one region and restored through another. Even if one carrier or cloud provider fails, your failover path stays active. Many enterprises pair this with multi-site colocation to support full network redundancy.

Who needs a carrier-neutral facility?

Companies that depend on fast, stable, or cloud-connected networks benefit the most from carrier-neutral data centers. Some industries and workloads rely on this model to meet basic service goals.

Enterprises using hybrid or multi-cloud networks

Direct links to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud are faster and more secure inside neutral facilities. On-ramps avoid the public internet and cut latency for critical apps. Teams can shift workloads between platforms without redesigning the entire network. Network costs also drop with private peering instead of high egress fees.

SaaS and content delivery platforms

Fast performance depends on short, direct routes to users.

Connecting through multiple carriers or CDNs improves load times, uptime, and global reach. Neutral data centers also let SaaS teams reroute traffic during outages or balance it across different regions based on demand.

Financial services and trading firms

Every millisecond counts in finance. Real-time trades and data feeds require low-latency paths with automatic failover.

Facilities with multiple carriers allow traffic to take the shortest route to exchanges or partners. Many firms also use neutral sites to meet uptime rules and failover policies set by regulators.

Healthcare, media, and retail companies

Many healthcare networks need secure and reliable cloud access for records, imaging, and remote care. 

Media workflows run better when uploads, storage, and editing tools connect through stable, high-speed paths.

Retail groups use neutral facilities to sync inventory, manage edge devices, and keep online systems up—even if one carrier fails.

Growing businesses that need options

Scaling too early with one carrier can cause problems later. Startups and growth-stage teams often need to expand across regions or adopt new tools quickly.

A neutral facility makes it easier to add bandwidth, connect to new services, or switch providers without moving hardware or redoing contracts.

Carrier-neutral vs. carrier-specific data centers

Carrier-neutral data centers give you more choice, more control, and more room to grow. Carrier-owned data centers limit how your network connects to the outside world. 

This chart shows how that difference affects everything from cost to performance to risk planning in your data centers:

Why the difference matters

Carrier-owned facilities often bundle colocation with their own connectivity. You colocate your gear, but all traffic flows through their network—and only their network. Changing providers means relocating your infrastructure or rebuilding your topology.

Neutral sites shift control to the customer. You place your equipment once, then select the providers that best fit your use case. If performance drops, if prices change, or if you adopt new cloud tools, you can reconfigure without moving a single rack.

How that affects your network strategy

Enterprises running hybrid cloud or distributed systems need flexibility. They often work with multiple clouds, remote users, and external partners. That level of complexity doesn’t work well in a locked-down environment.

Carrier-specific sites may work for small workloads or businesses that only need basic internet access. For most modern networks, especially those with growth plans, the lack of choice creates friction.

Neutral facilities align better with long-term network design and implementation. They make it easier to scale, isolate traffic, connect to cloud platforms, and manage risk.

How carrier-neutrality supports enterprise network strategy

Carrier-neutrality lets you build a network that can adapt, recover, and expand. It’s directly tied to broader enterprise goals like:

• Building resilient infrastructure for always-on services
• Supporting failover during disasters or outages
• Enabling secure and flexible cloud migrations
• Powering real-time IoT and edge deployments

Neutral facilities also make network risk assessment easier. You can diversify paths, encrypt traffic at different layers, and isolate workloads as needed.

In our view at Meter, carrier-neutrality should be considered early in any transformation plan. It creates a stronger foundation for whatever comes next—more bandwidth, new regions, additional cloud layers, or edge requirements.

What to ask before choosing a carrier-neutral data center

Not all neutral data centers offer the same level of flexibility, uptime, or cost control. Asking the right questions upfront helps avoid network risks, hidden fees, and poor fit down the line.

How many carriers are available on-site?

Ask for a current list of active providers with details on what services they offer—transit, MPLS, DIA, cloud interconnect, etc. More providers give you more leverage and flexibility. Ten or more is a good baseline for regional facilities, but some top-tier sites host 50+.

Do they support direct cloud interconnects?

Many cloud platforms—like AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, and Google Cloud Interconnect—only connect through select locations. Confirm support for the clouds you use and check if services are delivered via virtual cross-connect, dark fiber, or partner transport.

What are the cross-connect options?

Ask about delivery types (fiber, copper, or virtual), pricing structure (monthly fee vs. flat rate), and provisioning timelines. Some facilities charge per port, per pair, or by distance. Faster provisioning can matter if you plan to scale quickly.

Is the facility Tier III or Tier IV certified?

Look for Uptime Institute Tier certifications to confirm redundancy levels. Tier III is maintainable without downtime. Tier IV supports full fault tolerance. Ask for documentation, not just marketing claims.

What physical and network security controls are in place?

Verify the presence of 24/7 on-site staff, biometric or keycard access, surveillance, locked cabinets, and alarm systems. On the network side, ask if VLAN isolation, private routing domains, or managed firewalls are available.

What is the power and cooling setup?

Confirm dual power feeds (A/B), generator backup, UPS systems, and cooling redundancy. Ask if power is billed per rack or by metered usage. Facilities with dedicated HVAC for each room or zone tend to offer better thermal performance.

How fast can I scale or change providers?

Some data centers offer fast turnaround for new cross-connects or upgrades. Others take weeks. If you're planning to grow, ask how long it takes to bring up new links, carriers, or IP blocks.

Do they charge for remote hands or basic support?

Some facilities charge hourly or by task for basic support, like reboots or cable moves. Others include limited support in your monthly fee. Clarify the scope and availability of remote hands services.

Are there restrictions on who I can connect to?

A carrier-neutral facility should let you work with any provider inside the building. Ask if some policies or fees limit this. Some sites claim neutrality but restrict access through partner-only rules.

Emerging trends in carrier-neutrality

Carrier-neutral data centers are no longer just spaces for hardware. They’re evolving into central nodes for enterprise cloud access, service interconnection, and application delivery. Neutrality now plays a larger role in how digital infrastructure is built and scaled.

Rise of multi-cloud and edge workloads

Most enterprise networks now span multiple cloud platforms, edge deployments, and on-prem infrastructure. At Meter, we see that trend accelerating. Our customers often need fast, private links to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle—without locking into one provider or path.

Carrier-neutral facilities support that kind of flexibility. We use them to give businesses direct cloud access, faster edge-to-core routing, and the freedom to grow across platforms on their terms.

Growth in real-time apps and services

Real-time tools like video calls, multiplayer games, smart cameras, and virtual collaboration platforms depend on low latency and low jitter. Network slowdowns hurt the user experience and increase churn.

Carrier neutrality allows traffic to take the fastest route to the destination. Enterprises can select providers based on performance metrics and fail over to others when needed. That’s key for apps where delays of even 50 milliseconds are noticeable.

Consolidation of Network as a Service delivery models

Managed Network as a Service (NaaS) providers like Meter are simplifying enterprise networking. Instead of working with separate vendors for hardware, internet service, monitoring, and updates, businesses can rely on a single subscription that includes everything.

That model reduces contract sprawl, streamlines upgrades, and removes the need to manage carrier relationships directly. Inside a neutral facility, managed network providers handle the complexity while giving customers full visibility and control.

Facilities are becoming digital exchange points

Carrier-neutral sites now act as interconnection hubs. Many double as internet exchange points (IXPs) or provide direct cloud on-ramps. Others offer access to private backbone networks, global peering fabrics, and real-time data services.

Instead of being a static hosting space, the facility becomes a live traffic exchange. Enterprises use it to route data between clouds, partners, providers, and services—all inside the same building.

That shift is turning traditional colocation into a platform for faster application delivery and distributed computing.

Frequently asked questions

Are carrier-neutral data centers more expensive?

While cross-connect fees and space costs vary, the ability to negotiate carrier pricing often results in lower total spend.

How many carriers can I access in a neutral facility?

Some offer as few as 5. Others have 50 or more. It depends on the location and facility tier.

Can I switch carriers after deployment?

Yes, and that’s the point. You can change providers without moving your equipment or re-framing your environment.

Do carrier-neutral data centers support cloud providers?

Many offer direct connections to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and other platforms for better performance and security.

Let Meter Connect build your carrier-neutral data center solution

Meter Connect delivers secure, scalable ISP connections that are designed to grow with your business. But our service doesn't stop at the line. Our approach includes installation and ongoing support, so you’re not left to figure out a new connection on your own.

Meter then goes a step further with Meter Cellular to deliver enterprise-grade connectivity through a fully managed carrier-neutral data center model. Plus, our vertically integrated networks take routine networking tasks—like maintenance and monitoring—off your IT team’s to-do list. Instead of spending time troubleshooting, your team can focus on the bigger picture.

With Meter, you get more than connectivity. You get a partner who adapts to your needs and keeps your business moving with high-performance solutions tailored just for you. 

Request a quote from us today on Meter Connect.