Prignitz in a data frenzy: Revolutionary fiber optics for the region!

Prignitz in a data frenzy: Revolutionary fiber optics for the region!

Something is happening in the area of ​​data infrastructure in Prignitz! Deutsche Eisenbahn Service AG (Desag) is planning to expand super-fast and highly secure data lines along its railway lines, which could have a decisive impact not only on the region but also on the future of data processing. The project is scheduled to start next year. Ralf Böhme, the board member of Desag, emphasizes that this initiative is of great importance for the development of decentralized data centers in the region. On top of that, the region would benefit from inexpensive commercial space and an abundance of wind and solar power that is often not available to transport. This is reported by maz-online.de and tagesspiegel.de.

The need for computing and storage capacity is constantly growing. Many companies in the data industry could theoretically operate independently of locations. Nevertheless, there have already been several requests to locate data centers in Prignitz, but these have often remained non-binding. Bernd Atzenroth, press spokesman for the district, points out that the Falkenhagen location is perceived by many as too far away from large urban centers. The Neuruppin city administration also sees challenges in the energy supply for new data centers.

Challenges and opportunities

Wiebke Nowack from the Regional Development Company Northwest Brandenburg (REG) confirms the repeated interest in data centers, but notes that important prerequisites are missing. But there are also positive developments: The city of Kyritz has already started a development plan for the establishment of a data center on 7 hectares of farmland. These plans include using waste heat from data centers for heating purposes and purchasing energy from renewable sources. A future-oriented approach that relies on innovative solutions.

Particularly interesting is the planned establishment of a data center by the British company Virtus in Wustermark, which is expected to cost around three billion euros. The company Maincubes is also planning a data center in Nauen, which has already been approved under building regulations and is expected to invest two billion euros. In Brieselang, NTT Global Data Centers announced the start of construction for a facility with an impressive power requirement of 96 megawatts. However, there are concerns about trade tax revenue here, as the operator will not have its headquarters locally.

A strong network for the future

Deutsche Eisenbahn Service AG goes beyond this and plans not only to use the new fiber optic lines, but also to offer them to other companies. In addition, the aim is to lay power cables for the distribution of green electricity in the region. Investments of up to ten billion euros are planned over the next few years to create a self-sufficient data network for companies with high security requirements, including the Bundeswehr. This could also lead to new businesses, such as data centers, locating in the region.

The Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger has emphasized the importance of efficient telecommunications networks for the location and the federal government is pursuing nationwide fiber optic expansion as an important goal in the coalition agreement. Over 85 percent of households in Germany can already surf with download rates of at least 200 megabits per second. Fiber optic expansion has almost doubled by mid-2024 and has now been classified as “spectacular” by the EU Commission, making the need for high-performance infrastructure in rural areas even more urgent. This is confirmed by bundesregierung.de.