Infomaniak
Corporate brand
UnclaimedSwiss provider of privacy-focused hosting, cloud, email, collaboration, and digital infrastructure services.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Infomaniak is a privately held Swiss technology company specializing in internet infrastructure and online services. Based in Geneva, it provides web hosting, domain registration, cloud computing, cloud storage, email, collaboration software, media-streaming infrastructure, and event-management technology. Its principal consumer and business offerings include hosting and registrar services, kDrive cloud storage, kMail email, kSuite collaboration tools, and Infomaniak Cloud. The company positions itself around data sovereignty, privacy, renewable-energy use, and an alternative to large US-based cloud and productivity platforms. The business grew out of a user group established in the Canton of Geneva in 1990 by Boris Siegenthaler. The group operated a bulletin board system for members before Siegenthaler and developer Fabian Lucchi opened a computer store in Châtelaine in 1994. The store sold comparatively low-cost custom-built computers and, after acquiring a modem and a 64-kilobit-per-second line, began providing internet access. This made it one of the first privately operated internet service providers in the canton, following institutions such as CERN and the University of Geneva. Internet access was initially used to support the computer-retail business, including a period when customers buying a computer received complimentary access. In May 1997, the operation became a formal internet-service business through the creation of TWS Infomaniak SA. When Switzerland's telecommunications monopoly ended at the beginning of 1998, competition intensified, particularly after new providers introduced free internet access. Infomaniak responded by shifting away from low-cost access and retail hardware toward web hosting and services for individuals, small businesses, and medium-sized enterprises. In 1999, TWS Infomaniak was reorganized as Infomaniak Network, with web hosting becoming the core activity. The company also hosted online-media projects, including basic.ch, described in the reference material as Switzerland's first web radio. Infomaniak expanded its regional position during the 2000s. By 2003 it was identified as the largest web host in Western Switzerland, and by 2005 it had become a major web-radio broadcaster in Western Switzerland and France. In 2007, the company introduced a sustainability charter that formalized commitments concerning employee pensions, sustainable travel, and charitable giving. It later developed data-center practices based on renewable electricity, efficient infrastructure, and low-voltage technologies. A data center opened in 2014 was presented as particularly energy-efficient and received a Geneva sustainability prize. The company broadened beyond hosting in 2010 by establishing Infomaniak Entertainment, a subsidiary focused on ticketing, staffing, and accreditation management for events. Its infrastructure business continued to grow: the company reported managing more than 100,000 domain names in 2011, and company figures cited for 2016 reported more than 200,000 domains, 150,000 websites, and 350 radio or television stations. Infomaniak completed a transition to solid-state-drive technology at the end of 2015 and was an early adopter of Let's Encrypt certificates. In 2016, the business reported that approximately 70 percent of its customers were companies and 30 percent individuals, with France and Belgium together accounting for roughly 30 percent of customers. Infomaniak remains primarily a hosting, domain, cloud, email, and collaboration provider. Its current brand proposition combines Swiss-based operations with control over customer data, environmental commitments, and an integrated suite intended to compete with conventional cloud-storage, email, and office-productivity services. The company has also been associated with public debate over online anonymity and Swiss surveillance policy. Statements by founder Boris Siegenthaler and communications manager Thomas Jacobsen drew criticism from privacy advocates because they appeared to support identity requirements and metadata collection in some circumstances and challenged opposition to Swiss surveillance legislation. These criticisms concern public positions rather than a reported finding of unlawful conduct.
History
Infomaniak originated in a Geneva-area user group founded by Boris Siegenthaler in 1990. The group operated a bulletin board system for its members, establishing an early technical and community base before the commercial company existed. In 1994, Siegenthaler and developer Fabian Lucchi opened the Siegenthaler & Lucchi computer store in Châtelaine, a suburb of Geneva. The store sold low-cost custom-built computers and soon acquired a modem and a 64-kilobit-per-second internet line. It consequently became one of the first privately operated internet-service providers in the canton, after CERN and the University of Geneva. For a limited period, customers who purchased computers received internet access without an additional charge. The internet operation became more formal in May 1997 with the creation of TWS Infomaniak SA. Switzerland's telecommunications liberalization at the beginning of 1998 brought new competitors, including providers offering free internet access. Rather than compete primarily on access pricing, the company repositioned itself around web hosting. In 1999, TWS Infomaniak was reorganized as Infomaniak Network, focusing on hosting for private customers and small and medium-sized businesses. Its early internet-media activities included hosting basic.ch, described as the first Swiss web radio. The hosting business expanded across the French-speaking Swiss market. By 2003, Infomaniak was regarded as the largest web host in Western Switzerland. By July 2005, it had also become the largest web-radio broadcaster in Western Switzerland and France according to the cited reference material. The company introduced a sustainability charter in 2007. The charter included an ethical pension fund for employees, sustainable-travel commitments, and a pledge to donate one percent of annual revenue to nongovernmental organizations. Sustainability subsequently became a central part of the company's infrastructure and brand identity. In 2010, Infomaniak created Infomaniak Entertainment, extending the business into event services such as ticketing, workforce coordination, and accreditation management. The main company continued to concentrate on web hosting and domain registration. In 2011, it announced that it managed more than 100,000 domain names. A third data center opened in 2014. The facility used renewable energy and low-voltage technologies and was promoted as especially energy-efficient; it later received a Geneva sustainability prize. The company completed a move to solid-state-drive technology at the end of 2015 and became an early adopter of Let's Encrypt SSL certificates. Company figures cited for 2016 indicated more than 200,000 domain names, 150,000 websites, and 350 radio or television stations under management. The same material described a customer base composed of approximately 70 percent businesses and 30 percent individuals, with small and medium-sized enterprises forming an important part of sales. Around 30 percent of customers were located in France and Belgium, and the company reported approximately 60 employees at that time. Infomaniak subsequently developed a broader portfolio of cloud and productivity services, including cloud computing, kDrive storage, kMail email, and the kSuite collaboration environment. These offerings extend the brand beyond conventional hosting and registrar services into integrated digital infrastructure and workplace software. The company continues to emphasize Swiss operations, privacy, data control, and renewable-energy use. It has also faced criticism over public statements on online anonymity and surveillance. The controversy involved positions attributed to founder Boris Siegenthaler and communications manager Thomas Jacobsen regarding identity requirements, metadata collection, and opposition to Swiss surveillance legislation. The available material describes public criticism and policy disagreement, not a confirmed legal judgment against the company.
- 2016
Expanded infrastructure footprint reported
[1]Company figures cited for the year reported more than 200,000 domains, 150,000 websites, and 350 radio or television stations.
- 2015
SSD infrastructure transition completed
[1]The company completed a full transition to solid-state-drive technology.
- 2014
Third data center opened
[1]A third data center was opened with renewable-energy and efficiency measures and subsequently received a Geneva sustainability prize.
- 2011
More than 100,000 domains managed
[1]Infomaniak announced that it managed more than 100,000 domain names.
- 2010
Infomaniak Entertainment created
[1]The company entered event technology through a subsidiary handling ticketing, staffing, and accreditation management.
- 2007
Sustainability charter introduced
[1]Infomaniak adopted a charter covering ethical pensions, sustainable travel, and charitable contributions.
- 2003
Leading Western Swiss web host
[1]Reference material identified Infomaniak as the largest web host in Western Switzerland.
- 1999
Reorganization around web hosting
[1]TWS Infomaniak was reorganized as Infomaniak Network and shifted its principal emphasis toward hosting for individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises.
- 1997
TWS Infomaniak SA created
[1]The operation became a formal internet-service company, combining low-cost access and web hosting with its computer-retail activity.
- 1994
Computer store and private internet service launched
[1]Boris Siegenthaler and Fabian Lucchi opened a computer store in Châtelaine and began providing private internet access after acquiring a modem and dedicated line.
Products and positioning
A Swiss, privacy-oriented and sustainability-focused alternative for hosting, cloud infrastructure, email, storage, and collaboration services.
Web infrastructure · 1997
Web hosting
Infomaniak's core business includes hosting websites and internet applications for individuals, companies, and organizations. The service evolved from the company's late-1990s strategic shift away from basic dial-up or low-cost internet access toward hosting and managed online infrastructure. It serves both private customers and small to medium-sized businesses.
Internet infrastructure
Domain registration
The company provides domain-name registration and related management services. Domain administration became a major part of the business as Infomaniak expanded its hosting portfolio, with the company reporting more than 100,000 managed domains in 2011 and more than 200,000 in figures cited for 2016.
Cloud computing
Infomaniak Cloud
Infomaniak Cloud extends the brand into scalable cloud infrastructure and computing services. It is part of the company's effort to offer Swiss-based alternatives to large international cloud providers, with emphasis on infrastructure control, data sovereignty, and energy-conscious operations.
Cloud storage
kDrive
kDrive is Infomaniak's cloud-storage service for storing, synchronizing, and sharing files online. It forms part of the company's productivity portfolio and is positioned as a privacy-conscious alternative to mainstream consumer and business storage platforms.
Email
kMail
kMail provides hosted email services within Infomaniak's broader communications portfolio. The service is designed for personal and organizational use and supports the company's positioning around Swiss-based hosting and customer control over data.
Collaboration software
kSuite
kSuite is an integrated collaboration environment combining services such as email, file storage, and online productivity features. It represents Infomaniak's move from infrastructure-only services toward a broader workplace and collaboration platform.
Event technology · 2010
Infomaniak Entertainment
Infomaniak Entertainment is the company's event-services subsidiary. Its activities include ticketing, staffing, and accreditation management, allowing Infomaniak to apply its software and infrastructure capabilities beyond hosting and cloud services.
Controversies
2016
Criticism over statements on anonymity and surveillance
Founder Boris Siegenthaler was criticized for a LinkedIn post opposing online anonymity and expressing acceptance of identity requirements and broad metadata collection in some circumstances. Communications manager Thomas Jacobsen also criticized privacy companies that opposed Swiss surveillance legislation, arguing that strong support for anonymity could impede criminal justice. Privacy advocates objected to these positions because they appeared inconsistent with the expectations associated with privacy-focused services.
Marketing campaigns
- 2007Sustainability charter
Switzerland
Infomaniak launched a company-wide sustainability charter covering employee benefits, travel practices, and charitable giving. The initiative became a foundation for the brand's environmental and social positioning.
Outcome. The commitments were followed by continued investment in renewable-energy-powered and energy-efficient data-center infrastructure.
Brand decisions
2015
Full transition to SSD technologyGeneration changeBackground
The company was modernizing the storage systems supporting its hosting infrastructure.
Action taken
Infomaniak reported completing a transition to solid-state-drive technology by the end of 2015.
Aftermath
The transition was part of the company's broader infrastructure modernization and preceded continued expansion of its cloud and online-service portfolio.
2014
Investment in efficient data-center infrastructureStrategyBackground
Growing hosting demand required additional infrastructure while the company was emphasizing sustainability.
Action taken
Infomaniak opened a third data center using renewable energy and low-voltage technologies.
Aftermath
The facility was promoted as highly energy-efficient and received a Geneva sustainability prize.
2010
Creation of Infomaniak EntertainmentM&ABackground
Infomaniak sought to extend its technology activities beyond hosting and domain services.
Action taken
The company created a subsidiary focused on ticketing, staffing, and accreditation management.
Aftermath
The move established an event-technology line within the broader Infomaniak portfolio.
2007
Formalization of sustainability commitmentsStrategyBackground
The company sought to distinguish itself through environmental and social practices as its hosting business expanded.
Action taken
Infomaniak adopted a sustainability charter addressing employee pensions, travel, and donations to nongovernmental organizations.
Aftermath
Sustainability became a recurring element of the company's infrastructure decisions and market positioning.
1999
Shift from internet access to web hostingStrategyBackground
Swiss telecommunications liberalization brought new competitors into the market, including providers offering free internet access.
Action taken
Infomaniak reorganized as Infomaniak Network and concentrated on web hosting for private users and small and medium-sized businesses.
Aftermath
Hosting became the company's principal business and supported its subsequent expansion across Western Switzerland and neighboring French-speaking markets.
Sources2 sources
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