In this interview, telecommunications expert Christof Denk from LEW TelNet talks about the future of digital networking, innovative technologies, and the challenges facing the telecommunications industry.
Mr. Denk, please explain what LEW TelNet does and which sectors your customers come from. What requirements do your customers approach you with?
LEW TelNet is part of the LEW Group and is one of the largest regional network operators in southwest Bavaria, with a fibre optic network spanning over 7,000 kilometres.
With over 140 employees, LEW TelNet offers local authorities, companies, and system integrators services related to the Internet, data communication, site networking, security, and data centres.
What are the biggest challenges in your industry at the moment, and how are you addressing them?
Consolidation in the telecommunications market is a challenge. However, it also offers opportunities, especially for broadband expansion, which has recently slowed down in Germany and still has some catching up to do compared to other countries.
The IT sector is also facing major challenges in terms of costs, modernisation, data protection, and sustainability. For this reason, we are constantly developing our product portfolio, for example by designing new data centre strategies. In doing so, we are focusing on the “twin transformation”, which combines digitalisation and sustainability to achieve both technological and ecological progress.
How do you assess the role of fibre optic technology and cloud services for the further development of Germany as a digital location?
Data volumes are increasing rapidly due to streaming, big data, and AI. Fibre optic technology is therefore the foundation for the technologies of the future.
In terms of data protection in particular, we need data centres in Germany that process data where it is generated – by using regional data centres or edge data centres.
Cloud services will continue to play a major role in the future. The focus will be on hybrid cloud strategies, where private clouds (on-premises) and edge data centres will play a significant role alongside the public cloud. In the end, it all comes down to finding the right mix.
What opportunities will digitalisation offer us in the future?
Digitalisation offers endless opportunities to automate, accelerate, and optimise tedious processes. Paper-based, manual work in particular will soon be a thing of the past. As a result, customers can improve business efficiency enormously. Of course, we are also focusing on digitalisation internally.
How did you decide to become an eco member? How do you expect your membership in the eco Association to support you in your work?
eco deals with topics that are highly relevant to us, such as digital infrastructures, digitalisation, sustainability, IT security, as well as data centres and cloud computing.
By participating in events, eco promotes networking within the industry, which is extremely important to us.
Of course, we also want to regularly attend member events and get actively involved. After all, we are convinced that we can achieve more together than alone. And that’s what it’s all about.
Thank you very much!
