When it comes to their online passwords, many people prefer continuity: In a representative Civey survey in Germany commissioned by the eco Association, 37.6 percent say they change their passwords less frequently than once a year.

IPv6 should soon become the predominant transport protocol, demands the Competence Group Networks in the eco Association. An eco survey is trying to determine which obstacles are currently preventing companies from switching completely from IPv4 to IPv6. Leader of the eco Networks Competence Group Falk von Bornstaedt explains the background in a short interview.

Bundling know-how to break new ground for digitalisation and data centres: Bernd Rüffer, Head of Business Development Datacenter, introduces WISAG Holding as a new eco member.

On Monday, Hessen’s Digital Minister Kristina Sinemus presented a study on the status of the information and communications industry (ICT) in Hessen in Frankfurt. The study also highlights the importance of data centres for Hessen’s economy.

eco’s Managing Director Alexander Rabe is certain that digitalisation is part of the solution for more sustainability, including in the field of agriculture and food. Consumers can contribute to more sustainability in the agriculture and the food industry with the help of digital solutions.

How can innovative digital technologies help to support and lighten the load on people's lives in rural areas? Read more in our interview with Prof. Peter Liggesmeyer and Steffen Hess on the "Digital Villages" research project.

On 10 January, the German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier hosted the New Year’s Reception at Bellevue Palace. Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board of eco, was also invited to the New Year’s reception in Bellevue, where he once again emphasised the importance of a stringent digital policy.

The basic problem is that the Data Act offers too much bureaucracy and too few incentives for companies to process, use and share data.”

The momentum for Gaia-X is growing steadily. More and more companies and teams across Europe are joining the initiative. The first pilot projects are underway. But the complexity also gives rise to a lot of questions. Insider Emma Wehrwein from eco – Association of the Internet Industry answers some frequently asked questions...

Read the interview with Andreas Bachmann, CEO at Adacor Hosting GmbH.

Digital infrastructures as well as digital technologies and services, when used consistently in the right domains, offer immense potential for tackling climate change and other sustainability goals.

The AI Campus learning platform(www.ki-campus.org) has set itself the task of explaining the technical principles behind AI tools in a comprehensible way and strengthening AI skills in society. For this purpose, the AI Campus develops free online courses, videos and podcasts for beginners and advanced learners in English...

The mobility of the future is digital, connected and available on demand. “For a sustainable mobility transition, a mobility ecosystem is needed that enables the sovereign and secure exchange of data among all actors involved. Only in this way can providers realise connected platforms that determine the most suitable means of transport and the most efficient route, taking into account real-time data,” says Oliver Süme, Chair of the eco Board.

The directive “for a high common level of cyber security” appeared in the EU Official Journal at the end of December and will enter into force on 16 January 2023. Numerous companies, state-owned enterprises and public authorities will have to comply with new requirements in the area of cyber security. eco Board Member Klaus Landefeld comments.

Sustainability and the further increase in data-driven processes will continue to be the most important drivers of the digital transformation of the economy and society in 2023, according to the prognosis of eco – Association of the Internet Industry.

EuroCloud Germany launches its own initiative for young leaders in the IT industry: With "EuroCloud Next Leaders", the association offers a forum for the Managing Directors and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

The Board of Trustees of the Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society has appointed eco’s Managing Director Alexander Rabe as a member of the Advisory Board for the next four years. The German Internet Institute is a joint project from Berlin and Brandenburg funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

The Internet industry – whether cloud start-ups, IT SMEs or Internet corporations – urgently needs more IT professionals of every skill level in 2023. The shortage of STEM professionals is expected to reach an all-time high in 2023. Lucia Falkenberg lists seven resolutions that will make companies more attractive for IT specialists.

An interview with Tobias Hüttner, Managing Director at Cloud Incubator GmbH.

To accompany the potential revitalisation of digital trade via the Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework, two transatlantic dialogues were jointly hosted by the European-based eco Association and the U.S.-based i2Coalition, with these taking place on 6 October 2022 in Washington, D.C., and on 6 December in Brussels.

Social media has become an integral part of our everyday lives. 50 per cent of Germans over the age of 14 are regularly active on social media. Yet, at the same time, negative aspects such as hate speech or disinformation are dominating the debate around social media.

"Probably that comes with working in an association that pushes things the way eco does. When there’s a lot going on, the years just fly by. 2022 is no exception. What a lot we have done together this year!" Read about Harald Summa's highlights for eco in 2022.

The large telecom operators repeatedly claim that the current voluntary network access arrangements impair their ability to cover infrastructure costs. They argue for a mandated charging scheme that would contribute to future infrastructure investment. The central argument for possible network access charges is based on...

The Association of the Internet Industry has just undertaken a 10-point check and has found that, one year after its inauguration, the German traffic light coalition has only made real progress on realising its digital policy goals in the field of digital infrastructure.

At the cross-competence group event “IoT CG/ Data Centre CG: Data Centres as an Integrative Element of Sustainable Smart City and Smart Building Solutions”, which was jointly implemented with ABB and its subsidiary Busch-Jaeger Elektro GmbH, eco Association started the discussion on the topic of smart ecosystems with various experts from the IoT and data centre environment.

On December 6, 2022, at 8:30 AM CET, key individuals in government, industry, and academia convened in Brussels, to discuss the legal framework that could make or break the Internet economy on both sides of the Atlantic.

The EU Commission today announced its preliminary adequacy decision on the Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework, the successor to the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield. This is another milestone on the EU side towards a transatlantic data protection agreement.

At the German federal government's Digital Summit, eco Association showcases Internet locations that make up the data ecosystem.

On the eve of the German federal government’s Digital Summit, the eco Association is organising the information tour “Internet Locations – Potentials of the Data Economy”.

German Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser intends to encourage the companies involved in critical infrastructures (KRITIS) in Germany to adopt uniform protection standards.