Setting New Benchmarks in Frankfurt: ONNEC Completes Landmark Hyperscale Network Build and Commissioning
We are proud to announce the successful completion of our IT Infrastructure delivery within Building 1 of a Frankfurt Hyperscale campus—a project that has effectively “re-written the rules” of the traditional landlord-tenant dynamic in the European market.
As the first facility of its specific design built outside the United States, with a total site capacity of 112 megawatts across 108,000 square metres, the undertaking required a high level of precision and technical integration.
Engineering at Scale: The Building 1 Footprint
The sheer volume of the installation speaks to the complexity our teams managed:
- Deployment of nearly 4,000 copper cables
- Over 500 fibre optic cables requiring more than 13,000 individual splices
- Installation across 100+ racks distributed throughout the facility
The project culminated in the submission of an equally comprehensive Operations & Maintenance (O&M) package, ensuring the client has a digital twin of the infrastructure for seamless future management.
Navigating the “Live” Environment
One of the most significant challenges, and ultimate successes, of this project was the commissioning strategy. Our teams adapted to a steep learning curve, gaining a deep technical understanding of how the data network serves as the nervous system for the facility’s mechanical and electrical engineering (M&E) systems.
Unlike traditional builds, individual data halls became fully operational immediately upon completion of their phases. This created a complex, “live” environment where Onnec personnel continued to build the network alongside operational data halls. Maintaining the highest standards of physical safety and information security was paramount.
Rigorous Validation through IST
Network quality and resilience were pushed to the limit during the Integrated Systems Testing (IST). At the end of each construction stage, the Onnec network and connected critical devices were subjected to a series of independently audited simulations of catastrophic failure events. These tests proved the resilience of our cabling and network infrastructure, confirming that the systems could withstand extreme operational stress without compromising the data centre’s integrity.
Looking Ahead: Building 2
The strength of our performance in Building 1 has secured Onnec’s future on the campus. When the client awarded the contract for Building 2 to a different General Contractor, they made it clear that Onnec remained the preferred ELV contractor.
Our mission remains clear: to carry forward the technical expertise, safety culture, and collaborative spirit that defined our success in the first phase.
As we continue to bridge the gap between complex network requirements and large-scale electrical engineering, Onnec remains committed to powering the digital infrastructure of Frankfurt and beyond.
