With data becoming an essential production input, we look at the location of data and cloud centres (DCCs) and explore drivers and potential implications of the uneven geography of this increasingly strategic digital infrastructure. We show that DCCs are located in a few, top digital services exporter countries, whereas their highest intensity is in small countries specialised in financial services exports. We argue that the uneven location of DCCs can lead to a “digital global core-periphery” structure. We conjecture a "Data Haven Hypothesis", where DCCs are especially present in tax havens, or in countries where top digital exporters can offshore energy-intensive digital infrastructures. We conclude by suggesting a research agenda on DCCs.

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