eco Association emphasises the importance of digital infrastructures for a stable network
- 40% of Germans use the Internet more during the European Championships
- 28% look up results online, while 17% watch extracts or matches online
- The eco Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany shows the necessity and potential of a reliable digital infrastructure ecosystem in new film
When the kick-off of this year’s European Football Championship (EC) sounds tomorrow (Friday), Internet usage will also increase significantly. A total of 61 per cent of Germans are planning to watch this year’s European Championship. 40 per cent of Germans will use the Internet more frequently than usual around the European Championships. This is the result of population-representative surveys conducted by the opinion research institute YouGov and the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, which was founded under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry.
The Alliance Spokesperson Béla Waldhauser comments: “The Internet has become an integral part of major events such as the European Championships. From streaming matches and sharing dream goals on social media to buying tickets – the Internet is a resource that will be used by organisers and fans alike this European Championship.”
Reliable Internet services round off the football experience
The survey results confirm that online services will be an integral part of this European Championship: 28 per cent of respondents say they will look up football results online. Just under one in five people (17 per cent) will watch matches or extracts of matches online, while one in ten people (12 per cent) will use the World Wide Web to communicate about the European Championships. Digital services also play a key role when it comes to actually watching football: although linear television remains the most popular way of watching the game at 43 per cent, online options are also a popular tool. For example, 16 per cent of respondents watch the European Championship live via streaming services and 10 per cent watch on-demand in media libraries or on platforms such as YouTube.
“For many football fans, a stable and reliable Internet is now a prerequisite for unadulterated football enjoyment. How annoying when the Internet connection hangs up during the decisive penalty shoot-out or social media tools stop working due to heavy network usage during public viewing. A strong network based on stable digital infrastructures ensures that all online services can be reached reliably and football broadcasts run smoothly, even when the network is very busy,” says Waldhauser.
The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany emphasises the relevance and potential of the digital ecosystem in the new film
“The functionality of the Internet depends on the digital infrastructure ecosystem, which is based on data centres. Data is processed and made available in these centres so that it can be accessed online by millions of people at the same time during events such as the European Championships. Although the Internet has now moved into almost all areas of life, including football, many people are unaware of the role of digital infrastructures,” says Waldhauser. He emphasises: “Without data centres, there would be no email, no AI and no online streaming for this European Championship.”
Since 2018, eco Alliance has been campaigning for greater visibility for the sector, which is not receiving sufficient attention and support from politicians despite high demand from industry, science and civil society and comprehensive digitalisation projects. The Alliance is releasing a new film in German language to illustrate the numerous potentials and the necessity of the digital ecosystem:
Digital infrastructures: the foundation for innovation and digital transformation
*On behalf of eco and the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, the opinion research institute YouGov surveyed 2033 people between 10 and 12 June 2024. The results were weighted and are representative of the population aged 18 and over in Germany.
