Zoom to open UK data centre in 2026 to enhance AI and compliance capabilities

Zoom announces plans to establish a UK data centre by early 2026, aiming to deliver secure, compliant, and AI-enabled collaboration tools tailored for Europe’s highly regulated markets amid increasing regionalisation trends.

Five years after becoming synonymous with pandemic-era video calls, Zoom is pivoting once more, this time advancing its focus on data sovereignty and AI governance with plans to open a UK data centre by early 2026. This strategic investment aims to position Zoom to better serve one of Europe’s most regulated digital markets amid the UK’s increasingly stringent compliance requirements and growing demand for AI-enabled collaboration tools.

Louise Newbury-Smith, Head of UK & Ireland at Zoom, described the planned data centre as “a significant milestone” in the company’s journey to deliver secure, compliant, and high-performance services tailored to UK customers. The new infrastructure will host core Zoom offerings , including Meetings, Webinars, Rooms, Team Chat, Phone, Notes, Docs, and the AI-powered Zoom Companion , enabling organisations across sectors such as financial services, healthcare, and government to maintain data residency within the UK while embracing AI-first collaboration.

The launch will include UK-only meeting zones and domestic telephony gateways with local dial-in numbers, helping to reduce latency and minimise compliance risks. Additional services like Zoom Contact Center and PCI compliance integration are set to follow, broadening the security and functionality offered to regulated industries. While details about the specific site location and investment remain under wraps, this move underscores the importance of local infrastructure in balancing innovation with regulatory adherence.

Zoom’s push for a UK data centre reflects a wider industry trend towards regionalisation, where global technology firms are increasingly tailoring their infrastructure to meet local data sovereignty demands. Steve Rafferty, Head of EMEA & APAC at Zoom, highlighted the critical role local infrastructure plays in enabling digital transformation for highly regulated sectors. “Our customers and partners have been clear: local infrastructure, compliance, and greater choice over where their data is stored are critical to unlocking digital transformation in regulated industries,” he said.

The new facility will be part of Zoom’s expanding EMEA data centre network, complementing existing centres in Germany, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia, and strengthening what industry leaders call an “intelligent hybrid infrastructure.” This approach is designed to offer flexibility and resilience across jurisdictions, mitigating regulatory risk while facilitating rapid adoption of AI collaboration tools. For IT executives, it promises to reduce the trade-off between innovation speed and compliance, while delivering stronger return on investment through enhanced data governance and reduced security risk.

Zoom is also offering customers flexible AI deployment models to suit varying regional compliance needs. Its Zoom-hosted Models Only (ZMO) option processes AI workloads entirely on Zoom-managed infrastructure within the customer’s region, supporting stricter regulatory policies. This model is already available in several regions and will dovetail with the UK data centre’s launch, reassuring organisations cautious about AI data processing.

The UK’s role as a critical hub for Zoom in EMEA was further emphasised with the recent opening of their London Experience Center, which has drawn thousands of industry leaders. Frederik Maris, Head of EMEA at Zoom, affirmed the country’s position as the company’s “door to EMEA,” reinforcing the strategic importance of the UK market alongside this new infrastructure investment.

Beyond infrastructure, Zoom is revamping its partner ecosystem to better support its global growth ambitions. Its redesigned Zoom Up Partner Program introduces a dynamic points-based framework with distinct streams for resale and agency partners, alongside integrated certification paths. This update aims to provide greater flexibility and clearer expertise recognition, helping customers identify the right partners in an expanding ecosystem.

In the broader context of the evolving AI-powered workplace, Zoom’s UK data centre initiative reflects a fundamental shift. Data governance is no longer simply a regulatory hurdle but a strategic enabler of growth and innovation. Organisations that prioritise local control, transparency, and AI assurance will be best positioned to harness the productivity gains of intelligent collaboration without incurring unacceptable risk.

Zoom’s commitment to a UK data centre in 2026 exemplifies the intersection of technology, compliance, and AI innovation, illustrating how the future of work will be shaped by those who treat data sovereignty as a foundation for digital transformation rather than an obstacle.

📌 Reference Map:

• ^[1] (UC Today) – Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
• ^[2] (Zoom Newsroom) – Paragraphs 2, 3
• ^[3] (Zoom Newsroom) – Paragraph 9
• ^[4] (VoIP Review) – Paragraphs 2, 3
• ^[5] (Zoom Blog) – Paragraph 7
• ^[6] (Data Centre Magazine) – Paragraph 3
• ^[7] (Total Telecom) – Paragraphs 2, 3

Source: Noah Wire Services