How DE-CIX and Strong Infrastructure Shape the Location
Digitalization is profoundly changing business and society. Powerful digital infrastructures are the foundation for innovation, growth, and international competitiveness. A recent study by the Dstream Group for the 30th anniversary of DE-CIX examines why Frankfurt is considered the world’s leading “Digital Capital” today.
Frankfurt is the Global Digital Capital: Ranked #1 Among Digital Metropolises
The study compares over 30 international cities based on 27 key metrics in the areas of Internet Exchanges (IX), data centers, connectivity, network infrastructure, and supply quality. The result: Frankfurt is the global digital capital and takes the top spot – ahead of Amsterdam, London, Washington D.C., Singapore, or New York.
The region particularly shows its strengths in the area of internet exchanges. With a total of 20 Internet Exchanges, nearly 2,500 connected networks (ASNs), and a port capacity of over 200 terabits per second, Frankfurt sets global standards. The heart of this development is the internet exchange DE-CIX Frankfurt, which has established itself as the largest and most powerful Internet Exchange in the world.
Data Centers and Networks: Frankfurt as a Global Data Hub
The density of data centers and network infrastructure in Frankfurt is also impressive by international standards. The region offers one of the best-developed ecosystems for data centers, IT service providers, cloud providers, and network operators. With nine cloud regions of leading hyperscalers, Frankfurt is one of the most important cloud locations worldwide – only a few other regions like Washington D.C. achieve comparable numbers.
Another plus: Frankfurt offers a balanced mix of national and international networks. About one-third of the connected networks are from Germany, two-thirds from the international environment. This diversity of network connections enhances the location’s attractiveness for businesses across all industries.
Infrastructural Location Advantages
Frankfurt scores not only with its digital infrastructure but also with excellent logistical prerequisites:
- Largest German airport for freight and passenger traffic
- 61 million passengers annually, 292 international destinations
- Major railway hub with direct connections to national and international networks
- Efficient road and inland waterway connections for freight transport
Furthermore, Frankfurt is also convincing due to its strong economic ecosystem in the ICT sector – with more than 5,000 companies employing around 50,000 people and generating revenue of about 10 billion euros.
These factors make Frankfurt the central hub for data streams, goods, and services in Europe.
Challenges for the Digital Future
Despite its top position, there is still room for improvement in the Main metropolis. In particular, there is a need to catch up in fiber optic expansion: With FTTH/B coverage of only about 40 percent, the region lags behind top international locations. The consistent development of sustainable data centers – for example, through the use of waste heat and the implementation of energy-efficient technologies – is also crucial to ensure long-term competitiveness.
Economic Value for the Region and Businesses
The economic significance of the digital infrastructure for the Frankfurt region is enormous. The study shows: Billions in additional value creation are generated by DE-CIX. The Internet Exchange acts as an innovation engine, reduces data transmission costs, and increases efficiency for companies across all industries – from financial service providers to cloud providers to industry.
Frankfurt Remains a Magnet for Digital Infrastructure
Frankfurt’s development into the leading digital capital is the result of decades of investment, political decisions, and close cooperation between business, research, and the public sector. For operators of data centers, network infrastructure, and IT service providers, the location offers optimal conditions for further growth and international expansion.
Frankfurt impressively demonstrates: Where digital infrastructure, innovative power, and global networking come together, a future-proof digital ecosystem emerges – and one of the most important centers for global digitalization.
Download the study “Frankfurt: The digital capital”
The complete English-language study by the Dstream Group can be downloaded free of charge here: “Frankfurt: The digital capital – Internet Exchanges as a success factor for digital ecosystems & economies”.
