Zoom Plans 2026 UK Data Centre for Regulated Industries

Zoom has announced plans to open a data centre in the United Kingdom aimed at regulated sectors like healthcare and financial services, with the facility expected to go live in the first half of 2026. 

The infrastructure will initially support services including Meetings, Webinars, Rooms, Team Chat, Phone, Notes, Docs and Zoom AI Companion, with additional services such as Zoom Contact Centre and PCI compliance integration to be phased in after launch.

“Launching a UK data centre is a significant milestone in Zoom’s journey to provide secure, compliant and high-performance services for all of our customers,” says Louise Newbury-Smith, Head of UK & Ireland at Zoom.

Zoom targets public sector, healthcare and financial services industries

The data centre has been designed to align with the United Kingdom’s data residency requirements, with Zoom stating the facility will unlock opportunities across regulated industries including public sector, healthcare and financial services. The new facility will enable UK-only meeting zones and telephony gateways with local dial-in numbers at launch.

UK-based organisations have driven adoption of hybrid work and collaboration tools over the past three years. The United Kingdom ranks as one of Zoom's top markets in EMEA, with customers ranging from FTSE 100 companies to public sector bodies.

Louise explains the facility will enable organisations to benefit from productivity gains alongside data residency offerings by hosting services locally. The company has identified data storage location as a priority for customers operating in regulated sectors.

Zoom in the UK: Experience Centre a hub for innovation

Zoom opened its Experience Centre in London in June 2024 as part of the company’s London office location, and operates as a showcase for Zoom's EMEA strategy, with the company using the space to co-create solutions with customers, prospects and partners.

“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,” says Steve Rafferty, Head of EMEA & APAC at Zoom. “This investment demonstrates Zoom’s long-term commitment to the UK market, and we are excited to see how it will empower organisations to innovate, collaborate and thrive.”

UK data centre complements Zoom infrastructure in Germany, Netherlands and Saudi Arabia

The new data centre will complement infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Germany and the Netherlands, which collectively serve European, Middle Eastern and African markets. The UK facility forms part of Zoom’s strategy across EMEA, where the company has pursued ongoing infrastructure investments, partnerships and market-specific innovations.

The company states it is tailoring developments to regional needs as it strengthens its presence throughout the region and responds to customer and partner feedback regarding data storage requirements and compliance needs in regulated industries.

“By investing in local infrastructure,” Louise adds, “we are ensuring that organisations across the UK, from financial services to government, can confidently embrace the future of AI-first collaboration.”

Zoom first launched in 2013 with video conferencing as its core offering, reaching 400,000 users in its first month. The company has since expanded beyond meetings to include Team Chat, Phone, Contact Centre, Webinars, Rooms and workspace management tools, and in 2023 introduced the first generation of its AI Companion as part of its transition to what it describes as an AI-first work platform.

“Our AI assistant, Zoom AI Companion, is the heartbeat of our evolution into an AI-first company and is critical in helping our customers uncover new opportunities for greater productivity,” says CEO Eric Yuan.