Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany Supports Initial Plans of the Digital Working Group
- Alliance Spokesperson Dr. Béla Waldhauser: “Germany can no longer afford digital bottlenecks. The next German federal government must now resolutely pave the way for a powerful digital ecosystem instead of continuing to apply the brakes.“
- A functioning ecosystem of digital infrastructures as the foundation of digital transformation
- Six demands for a future-proof ecosystem of digital infrastructures for the incoming German federal government
With the amendment to the German constitution for the debt brake and the 500 billion Euro special fund, the German federal government has set an important course for the renovation and expansion of Germany’s infrastructures.
The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, founded under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, welcomes the planned investments and calls for a significant share of the planned special fund to be directed into the ecosystem of digital infrastructures, thus accelerating the digital transformation of the economy and administration.
In order to sustainably strengthen Germany as a business location for the challenges of advancing digitalisation and the urgently needed computing capacities – particularly for AI applications, and to make it future-proof – Germany needs a holistic ecosystem of digital infrastructures. A functioning ecosystem of digital infrastructures includes data centres, as well as reliable and high-performance Internet exchange points and edge nodes. These form the foundation of digitalisation.
Dr Béla Waldhauser, Spokesperson of the eco Alliance, says: “Whether in patient administration in the healthcare sector, industrial automation or supply chain management in logistics, without data centres, everything would come to a standstill.” The economic productivity effects of digitalisation can only be realised with a suitable infrastructure landscape. This applies in particular to Germany’s international competitiveness in the field of AI location. “We need feasible regulations as well as planning and legal certainty in order to keep Germany well connected in the AI era,” Waldhauser goes on to say.
eco Alliance evaluates the first interim results of the Digital Working Group
The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany is therefore calling on the future government parties in the current coalition negotiations to adopt a package of measures in the current coalition negotiations to strengthen the development of the digital infrastructure ecosystem and thus secure Germany’s competitiveness. The eco initiative is seeing the first positive signals from the working group’s published status as of 19 March. In particular, the commitment to the data centre location in Germany, in conjunction with the prospect of electricity price compensation, could, from the infrastructure operators’ perspective, pave the way for a stronger digital location in Germany.
eco Alliance’s demands for a competitive digital location in Germany
In addition to the consideration of the special fund, Waldhauser emphasises that the right framework conditions are now essential. The eco Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany presents six specific demands to the next German federal government:
- Adapt the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) and make it implementable: The requirements for Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) must be linked to the actual capacity utilisation of the data centres. Waste heat should be used if it is technically feasible, economically responsible and location-specific – with the involvement of relevant stakeholders.
- Swift construction of data centres: The government must create legal certainty by reducing bureaucracy, providing relief and introducing uniform building regulations. Additionally, planning and approval procedures must be accelerated.
- Guarantee competitive electricity prices: Data centres must have access to base-load and affordable electricity and be taken into account in the setting of industrial electricity prices. In addition, the funding system in the German EEG (Renewable Energy Sources Act) must be reviewed to ensure a broader acceptance of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPA).
- Reduce reporting and documentation requirements: The next government must harmonise European and national reporting requirements, such as the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the EnEfG, and reduce overlapping national bureaucracy. At the EU level, the government should advocate for a critical review of the EED.
- Attract more skilled workers: The German federal government must aim for improved immigration conditions, such as faster visa and recognition procedures, as well as a reduction in bureaucracy in public authorities, in order to attract the skilled workers needed. Germany must foster a welcoming culture to attract international talent.
- Firmly anchor the digital ecosystem as part of the public infrastructure: The German federal government must consider and recognise the ecosystem of digital infrastructures as part of the general public supply systems, such as roads or railways, both in regulatory measures affecting public infrastructures and in public discourse.
