Nvidia, Deutsche Telekom strike €1B partnership for a data center in Munich

Core Insights - Nvidia has signed a €1 billion ($1.15 billion) partnership with Deutsche Telekom to establish an "AI factory" in Munich, aiming to enhance Germany's AI computing power by 50% [1][2] Group 1: Project Overview - The project, named "Industrial AI Cloud," will utilize over 1,000 Nvidia DGX B200 systems and RTX Pro Servers equipped with up to 10,000 Blackwell GPUs to deliver AI inferencing and services to German companies while adhering to local data sovereignty laws [2] - Deutsche Telekom will provide the physical infrastructure, while SAP will contribute its Business Technology platform and applications [4] Group 2: Partnerships and Use Cases - Early partners of the project include Agile Robots, which will assist in installing server racks, and Perplexity, which will leverage the data center for "in-country" AI inferencing for German users [3] - The project will also explore use cases such as digital twins and physics-based simulation for industrial companies [3] Group 3: Industry Context - The partnership aligns with a broader call from the European tech industry for reduced reliance on foreign infrastructure and the promotion of local alternatives, amidst criticism of the EU's regulatory approach to AI [5] - The EU has committed €200 billion to establish "AI gigafactories" focusing on industrial applications, although funding for AI initiatives in Europe remains significantly lower than in the U.S. [6] Group 4: Future Outlook - The project is expected to commence operations in early 2026 and is distinct from the EU's AI gigafactory initiative [7] - Deutsche Telekom's CEO emphasized the importance of AI in enhancing products and reinforcing European strengths in mechanical engineering and industry [7]