Internet - Minister-President Rhein at spade-strike for Data Center
The US company Cyrus One is building its seventh Data Center in Hesse, Germany. The conglomerate is reportedly investing "significantly more than a billion Euros" in the "FRA7" project, which is being constructed in the Frankfurt district of Griesheim. This will underscore Hesse's strategic significance as a digital data traffic hub in Europe, stated Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU) at the groundbreaking ceremony. "It's very important for us to continue leading in Germany and Europe when it comes to data centers, because we can only really meet the challenges of digitalization – not just cope with them - but also drive them."
"We have to be where the data is"
Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main Region are dominant areas for data centers. "Germany is currently the most important growth market for Cyrus One," emphasized Carsten Schneider, Managing Director in Germany. The company is investing heavily in the state of Hesse. "We have to be where the data is, and that's simply here in Frankfurt."
Frankfurt's appeal as a location is due in part to its high fiber optic cable density and one of the world's largest Internet exchange points, De-Cix. At this Internet exchange point, many national and international data streams converge, making Frankfurt a central hub for data traffic in Europe. With the connection, low latency times for data can be achieved.
Internet exchange point as a location advantage
"Data centers are an essential prerequisite for further digitalization, for the use of Artificial Intelligence, for the processing of increasingly more data in increasingly shorter time – and ultimately also for digital transformation," said Rhein.
According to reports, 100 new jobs are expected to be created in connection with "FRA7," and the operation is scheduled to begin in 2026 and then be expanded further. The company also places great value on the reuse of waste heat generated by their data centers. For example, this waste heat could be used to heat residential, office, or industrial buildings.
There are already dozens of larger data centers in Frankfurt and the surrounding area. Numerous others are in planning. Google opened a cloud data center in Hanau last October.
- The CDU-led Hesse government, with Minister-President Boris Rhein at the helm, celebrates the groundbreaking of Cyrus One's seventh Data Processing Center in Frankfurt am Main.
- With its significant investment in the "FRA7" project, Cyrus One is reinforcing Frankfurt's position as a key technology hub within the Rhine-Main-Region and Germany as a whole.
- Boris Rhein emphasized the importance of leading in data center development, asserting that it is crucial to surpass challenges in digitalization and drive its advancement.
- Carsten Schneider, Managing Director of Cyrus One in Germany, highlighted the company's strategic investment in Hesse, stating that being situated in areas with high data density is essential.
- Frankfurt's appeal as a prime location for data centers is bolstered by its superb fiber optic infrastructure and world-class Internet exchange point, De-Cix.
- At the De-Cix exchange point, numerous national and international data streams converge, making Frankfurt an indispensable hub for data traffic within Europe, ensuring low latency times.
- In the neighboring city of Hanau, Google established a cloud data center last October, further bolstering the region's reputation as a thriving digitalization hub.
- In Frankfurt and its surrounding area, one can find abundant large-scale data centers, with many more in the planning stages.
- To minimize its environmental footprint, Cyrus One places emphasis on the reuse of waste heat generated by their data centers, employing it to heat residential, office, or industrial buildings in the Griesheim Commune of Frankfurt.
