The strategic role of the Ministry of Digital Governance in shaping a comprehensive framework for the development of data center infrastructure in the country was highlighted by the General Secretary of Telecommunications and Post, Konstantinos Karantzalos, during his intervention at the recent Power & Gas Forum.
The General Secretary emphasized the rapid increase in digital data and the decisive role of artificial intelligence and cloud computing in shaping new technological and investment dynamics. As he pointed out, data processing, from everyday digital services to complex applications with high computational demands, is now largely carried out on cloud infrastructures, leading to an exponential increase in the need for computational power and correspondingly for energy.
Referring to the role of the Ministry of Digital Governance, Mr. Karantzalos stressed that the policy for the development of data centers requires close coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Energy, as these are investments that closely link telecommunications and energy infrastructures.
In this context, he noted that factors such as the geographical distribution of investments, the availability of telecommunications networks, the adequacy and proximity of energy resources, as well as their contribution to regional development are being examined. Special emphasis was placed on the institutional and technical framework for the development of telecommunications infrastructure, with the General Secretary pointing out that Greece has one of the fastest procedures in Europe for implementing connectivity projects, such as submarine cables. The existing experience, among others from the development of similar infrastructure in Crete, creates solid foundations for further strengthening the country's role as a transit and digital hub.
A central point of the General Secretary's intervention was the importance of data storage and management. As he mentioned, the concept of data sovereignty is gaining increasing importance at the European and national levels, as critical data must be hosted and protected within the country. This direction, beyond its institutional significance, also creates development prospects, as it enhances investment interest in the installation of modern infrastructure.
