Visiting the Heart of the Physical Internet: Data Center Tour in Frankfurt

On Friday, the Distributed Systems Research Group of the University of Kassel had the rare opportunity to dive into the core of the digital world at the Telehouse and Equinix FR8 colocation data centers in Frankfurt, Germany. Our team of PhD students, staff, and undergrad and master’s students, many of whom were entering a data center for the first time, got an insider’s view into what makes the internet physically possible. ✨

We were given an unforgettable tour through the "meet-me" rooms, fiber pathways, towering racks, state-of-the-art cooling systems, and the infamous “bird cages.” In every corner, we witnessed the physical foundations of the internet—where connections are formed and global data traffic flows.

Frankfurt is truly the Mecca of the Internet, home to one of the world’s largest internet exchanges, DE-CIX, and a dense network of colocation data centers that form key international connections, making it a vital hub for digital infrastructure across Europe and beyond.

Frankfurt's rise as a digital infrastructure powerhouse has roots in its early telecom networks. ???? Kleyerstrasse originally housed telephone network hubs, while Hanauer Landstrasse became a hotspot for internet infrastructure. Over time, these areas converged, transforming into critical hubs for global internet traffic. Today, they host a dense network of data centers, with fiber optic manhole covers bearing the names of major carriers who’ve laid extensive networks of fiber beneath the sidewalks.

Frankfurt's importance continues to grow, with data centers expanding—including Equinix’s latest facilities—to support the city's role as one of the world’s most vital internet exchange points.

A huge thank you to Telehouse and Equinix for the fascinating tours and the rare opportunity to go beyond the security layers to the heart of the internet.