- Hessen is relying on data centres
German Minister of Digital Affairs Kristina Sinemus (CDU) has called for more data centers in Hesse, particularly in the Frankfurt area. "We need to create the right conditions and continue to drive and support the expansion of existing capacities and the construction of new data centers in the coming years," she said during a visit to the Digital Park Fechenheim in the Main metropolis.
Hesse already ranks among the most attractive and important locations for data centers in Europe and the world, thanks to one of the world's largest internet exchange points, DE-CIX. With announced and ongoing investments by private companies in the billions, as well as a significant portion of Germany's data center capacity, "we are at the forefront of digital development in Hesse," said Sinemus. The former Neckermann area in eastern Frankfurt is currently being transformed into the Digital Park Fechenheim, a campus with eleven data centers. Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region are already dominant regions for data centers.
Data centers enable digital everyday life
"Only with data center capacities is the digital everyday life of many people possible today," said Volker Ludwig of Digital Realty, a US company specializing in data center management. "Whether streaming services, online shopping, or electronic patient management, data centers are the backbone of any digitalization."
Ulrich Caspar, President of the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that "we must consistently and boldly drive the expansion of our economic location's digital infrastructure." This is crucial for the competitiveness of the international metropolitan region. Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region are the digital heart of Europe, and data-intensive industries such as finance, start-ups, industry, or creative industries rely on proximity to data centers.**
In July, the US company Cyrus One began construction of its seventh data center in Hesse, located in the Frankfurt district of Griesheim. In Hanau, internet giant Google opened a cloud data center just last October.
The German Government, recognizing the importance of data centers in enabling digital everyday life, supports the expansion of data centers in Hesse, particularly in Frankfurt. With the construction of new data centers and the expansion of existing capacities, Germany aims to maintain its position as a leader in digital development.
Given Hesse's status as a major location for data centers, the German Government sees it as crucial to continue attracting private investments in the billions to maintain this position and support the growth of data-intensive industries.
