October 1, 2000 marked the starting point: with the founding of T-Systems International GmbH and the integration of debis Systemhaus, a heavyweight in IT and telecommunications solutions was created in Germany. “Convergence is our business” was the first slogan – and it set the tone. Today, 25 years later, the Telekom subsidiary is not only considered the number one IT service provider in Germany (Lünendonk list), but has also established itself as a European competitor to international hyperscalers.
From cloud pioneer to European alternative
As early as 2004, T-Systems made a mark with its “Dynamic Services” and was the first European company to offer cloud computing. In the years that followed, the IT service provider consistently expanded its expertise: from opening Germany’s largest cloud data center in Biere (2014) to the Open Telekom Cloud (2016) and partnerships with Microsoft, AWS, and Google. Today, the offerings are marketed under the umbrella brand T Cloud, which focuses on European sovereignty and the highest security standards.
IT for key industries and global corporations
With its roots in the automotive industry, T-Systems has long been broadly positioned. Whether in the healthcare sector, logistics, banking, insurance, or public administration, the Bonn-based company’s solutions can be found in security-critical infrastructures as well as in the day-to-day business of global corporations. Customers such as Shell, Mercedes-Benz, Deutsche Bahn, and Swiss Federal Railways rely on the multi-cloud strategy and customized security and AI solutions.
Next step: AI gigafactory in Germany
A highlight of the company’s recent history is its partnership with NVIDIA. Together, the two companies are building Europe’s first industrial AI cloud with 10,000 AI processors by 2026 – a kind of “AI gigafactory” on German soil. The aim is to give European corporate customers access to highly scalable AI resources without dependence on non-European providers. This once again positions T-Systems as a pioneer of a sovereign digital infrastructure.
Milestones in a 25-year success story
- 2004: First European cloud offering (“Dynamic Services”)
- 2008: Largest contract in the company’s history: IT outsourcing for Shell
- 2014: Opening of the Biere cloud data center
- 2016: Launch of the Open Telekom Cloud
- 2021: Edge cloud solutions for real-time data
- 2022: Launch of the “Sovereign Cloud powered by Google”
- 2025: Introduction of AI Foundation Services and bundling of all offerings under T Cloud
- 2025: Announcement of NVIDIA cooperation on industrial AI cloud
Looking ahead
“Telekom was way ahead of its time and recognized the convergence of IT and telecommunications as the business model of the future,” explains Ferri Abolhassan, CEO of T-Systems. “Today, our T Cloud is the leading European alternative to the international hyperscalers. And with the industrial AI cloud, we are setting the next milestone – for a secure, sovereign, and innovative digital future.”
