Cloud and satellite: Amazon wants to invest 16 billion euros in Germany in 2027

The American technology group Amazon plans to invest more than 16 billion euros in Germany in 2027. The company announced on Tuesday at the investment summit of the Federal government. The money will go to new data centers and infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI), Amazon’s satellite internet service called Leo, the expansion of logistics and new content for the streaming service Prime Video. A spokeswoman emphasized on request that it was new, as yet unannounced investments. “Germany is a centre for innovation and one of Europe’s most attractive investment locations,” said Amazon’s chief lobbyist David Zapolsky, pointing out that Amazon has invested more than €100 billion in Germany since 2010. Federal Economic Affairs Minister Katherina Reiche spoke of a “clear vote of confidence” for the German location. Expansion of the cloud region in Frankfurt 4.8 billion euros, i.e. just under a third of the investment amount, is attributable to Amazon’s cloud division AWS, which wants to expand its data centers around Frankfurt. With this, AWS wants to meet the increasing customer demand, it said. An unspecified share will flow into Amazon's Leo satellite network, which will become the alternative to Elon Musk's satellite Internet Starlink. In Germany, too, Leo should bring Internet to areas that are not reached by existing networks. Amazon Leo has secured 24 rocket launches from European launch service provider Arianespace. In addition, Amazon announced the expansion and modernization of its logistics network. Investing in robotics should enable faster deliveries. The existing logistics centres in Bad Hersfeld in Hesse as well as in Dortmund and Werne (NRW) are already being modernised. This work would be completed in 2027. The modernization work in Koblenz, Pforzheim in Baden-Württemberg and Rheinberg near Duisburg would continue in 2028. In Könnern (Saxony-Anhalt) a new logistics centre will be built. For its streaming service Prime Video Amazon plans until the end of 2027 with 15 new German productions. Amazon also announced that it would continue to invest in “more sustainable infrastructure, responsible water management and social initiatives”, without mentioning concrete sums. The company is Germany’s largest commercial buyer of CO2-free energy and has facilitated energy projects with a total capacity of more than 1.3 gigawatts, including wind farm projects in the North and Baltic Seas.