Telefónica has launched a new initiative to improve the energy efficiency of its data centers and technical facilities through a system that combines IoT sensors, advanced analytics, and a real-time 3D digital twin. The project is being rolled out from Telefónica Germany in collaboration with EkkoSense and is part of the automation framework of the group’s Autonomous Network Journey (ANJ). The company claims that this technology will enable optimization of thermal management in critical infrastructure, improve operations, and move toward a more automated model.
The move makes sense at a time when data centers and technical installations remain one of the main energy consumption focuses within the telco and digital business. As traffic increases, demand for capacity grows, and workloads multiply, controlling energy costs is no longer just about sustainability but also about cost-effectiveness, operational resilience, and infrastructure planning. Telefónica presents this project precisely as a tool to better manage cooling, increase efficiency, and delay premature investments in physical expansions.
The deployed solution allows real-time monitoring of critical equipment status, generates a dynamic map of thermal and load risks, and issues automated recommendations to fix inefficiencies and extend equipment lifespan. Furthermore, the digital twin can model and project the physical, electrical, and thermal capacity of rooms, as well as simulate failure scenarios to design preventive responses. All of this translates, at least on paper, into more precise data center environment management without compromising service continuity.
One of the key highlights Telefónica emphasizes is the speed of deployment. According to the company and EkkoSense, new sites can be integrated in a matter of days, with no service interruption and without the need for additional works or infrastructure. This detail is important because one common barrier in such initiatives is the cost and complexity of deploying sensors and advanced optimization tools in already operational facilities.
An estimated 15% to 20% savings in cooling
The most striking figure in the announcement is the energy savings estimate. Early assessments of the program indicate an estimated reduction of between 15% and 20% in cooling system energy consumption. Telefónica emphasizes that these savings have an immediate impact on energy OpEx and improve operational efficiency, while continuous thermal behavior monitoring helps optimize available capacity and prevent risks through predictive alerts and proactive maintenance.
It is, however, important to interpret this figure with the appropriate nuance. It is presented as an estimate derived from initial program evaluations, not as an audited and independent result across the entire group network. Nonetheless, this data aligns with an increasingly common idea in the sector: a significant part of energy efficiency improvement potential in data centers is not just about replacing equipment but operating existing systems better—using more granular real-time data, enhanced simulation capacity, and better operational practices.
EkkoSense also highlights another aspect: the complexity of traditional DCIM tools. The company states that one of the historical barriers to optimizing data centers has been precisely the difficulty of use and exploitation of these systems, and argues that the approach adopted with Telefónica Germany simplifies this layer through new sensorization, real-time analytics, and 3D visualization. In other words, the value lies not only in having a digital twin but in ensuring that this twin is truly useful for operations and decision-making.
More efficiency within a broader energy strategy
This initiative is not isolated. Telefónica has already been asserting in its corporate communications that energy efficiency is one of the main axes of its technological transformation. In March 2024, the company stated that it had reduced its energy consumption by 8.6% since 2015 while traffic had also multiplied by 8.6, and that since 2010 it had deployed 1,574 projects generating over €2.2 billion in recurring savings, in addition to saving 13,800 GWh of energy and avoiding 4 million tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions.
This context helps explain why Telefónica aims to present the new digital twin as part of a broader strategy rather than just a technological pilot. The company links efficiency with network modernization, legacy decommissioning, virtualization, cloud migration, smarter cooling, and the use of AI-based and machine learning platforms. Within this framework, the EkkoSense project functions as a tool to maximize the performance of critical infrastructures where cooling and thermal capacity remain decisive.
Additionally, Telefónica has made it clear that it does not intend to limit this experience to Germany. Deployment will proceed progressively over the coming years, prioritizing high-consumption sites, and the group plans to extend the approach to other markets by sharing learnings and internal developments. The demonstration of the solution is already available at LaCabina in Telefónica’s Madrid district and at the Innovation Experience Area at O2 Telefónica Germany in Munich, reinforcing the intention to turn it into a showcase and a replicable model.
Implications for the future of data centers
Beyond Telefónica’s specific case, this type of project indicates a clear trend: data centers can no longer be managed solely as physical spaces filled with racks and cooling; they require a continuous layer of operational intelligence. Increasing density, the pressure from AI workloads, the need to control PUE, and the increasingly apparent energy costs are pushing the sector toward more refined, predictive monitoring models.
In this scenario, digital twins offer a clear advantage: they enable visualization, simulation, and adjustment before intervention. When supported by granular sensors and useful analytics for operators, they can become practical tools to prevent over-provisioning, detect thermal bottlenecks, and improve efficiency without compromising availability. Telefónica is not the only company exploring this route, but it is leveraging this project to strengthen a narrative where automation and energy efficiency increasingly go hand in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has Telefónica implemented in its data centers?
Telefónica Germany has deployed a solution developed with EkkoSense that combines IoT sensors, advanced analytics, and a real-time 3D digital twin to optimize thermal and energy management in its data centers and technical facilities.
How much energy savings does Telefónica estimate with this project?
Early evaluations suggest a reduction of approximately 15% to 20% in cooling system energy consumption.
What are the benefits of EkkoSense’s digital twin?
It allows real-time monitoring of critical equipment, visualization of thermal and load risks, automated recommendations, failure simulation, and projection of physical, electrical, and thermal capacity for more efficient operation.
Will this deployment be limited to Germany?
No. Telefónica has indicated that it will gradually extend this approach to other group markets in the coming years, prioritizing high-consumption sites.
via: telefonica