Equinix, TelecityGroup and Interxion not only grew faster than the retail colocation market as a whole in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, but retained their market-leadership positions, according to new research from the Reno, Nevada-based Synergy Research Group.

Together, the three companies now control nearly one-fourth of the EMEA market, more than 30% of which is in the UK. TelecityGroup and Equinix each have about 8% share of the EMEA market and are also in comparable positions in the UK.

Interxion's EMEA market share is 7%. The provider is followed by Telehouse and Deutsche Telekom, with 4% of the market each, and Orange (3%).

Interoute, BT and Colt each have 2% of the market, according to Synergy.

The wholesale data center market in EMEA is dominated by Global Switch, which accounts for about 40% of all wholesale revenue, and Digital Realty Trust. Synergy said Digital was the only other wholesale provider with double-digit market-share percentage but did not disclose the San Francisco-based REIT's exact share.

“EMEA accounted for nearly a third of global retail colocation revenues in Q3, and historically its growth rate has not lagged too far behind North America and APAC, despite the economic problems in the region,” John Dinsdale, a Synergy analyst, said. “It is also notable that the EMEA market leaders have shown it is possible to successfully build a pan-European presence.

“This is in contrast to the APAC region, where the market leaders have achieved their positions primarily by building a strong presence in their home countries.”

In a report published in early October, Synergy assessed that the global colocation market revenue reached US$5.2bn in the second quarter of 2013, growing 9% year over year. The analysts predicted that the market would reach an annual $30bn by 2017.

Nearly 80% of Q2 revenue came from retail colocation, the rest generated in the wholesale market. Equinix was the biggest retail player, while Digital had the biggest chunk of the wholesale market.

North America accounted for 44% of the worldwide market, Synergy said.