The Cologne-based telecommunications company is building a modern data centre with initially six data centre rooms in the first construction phase. It is scheduled to be completed in spring 2024. Because of the green facades, photovoltaic systems and the consistent use of the resulting waste heat, the data centre will be maximally energy efficient. NetCologne will purchase green electricity from RheinEnergie for operations.
“Our fibre optic networks are the aorta of digital life, our data centres are the brain in which the data is stored and processed. They are absolutely central to the digital world,” explains Timo von Lepel , Managing Director of NetCologne. “With our new data centre, we offer our customers data storage and processing services that are secure, regional and at the same time sustainable. In this combination, this offer is unique in our region.”
NetCologne’s new data centre expands the existing offering for business customers and will also be used for the Cologne company’s own data processing. It is being built using a modular design and will be expanded at a later date.
“The data volume grows year after year and with it the need for computing power,” says Dr. Claus van daer Velden , commercial director of NetCologne. “Thanks to our double-digit million investments in the new data centre capacities in our hometown, this growth can take place in a CO₂-neutral manner and in close proximity to our customers.”
According to a Bitkom study, the global server population amounted to around 85 million in 2022 – in 2015 it was still around 60 million. Germany’s share fell slightly during this period, from 3.5 to 3 percent. Accordingly, there is a need for action here. Most of the servers are in the USA and China. According to Bitkom, there are currently around 3,000 data centres in operation in Germany.
