WiredScore gets connected in Germany

Connectivity ratings firm WiredScore has today launched in Germany, where internet quality has been ranked the number-one criteria for a good office building, according to research by YouGov. WiredScore’s German launch is in Berlin, reflecting demand from Berlin’s leaders in digital connectivity. A number of landlords and developers have already committed to WiredScore, including LaSalle, Tishman Speyer, Brookfield, Hines, TLG IMMOBILIEN and Rockspring Property Investment Managers. Allianz Real Estate is also a WiredScore customer in Germany. Occupied buildings currently in the certification process include the tower at Potsdamer Platz 11, Kapweg 3-5, Ritterstraße 12-14, and the Rosenkontor on Rosenstraße. Developments and refurbishments committed to Wired Certification can be found in the city’s technology hub, such as the Zoom building currently under construction at Bahnhof Zoo, and in the city centre, where the historic Pressehaus on Alexanderplatz is currently under refurbishment and will soon be Wired Certified. The launch follows WiredScore’s moves into Paris and Dublin earlier this year and was backed by research by YouGov that revealed good internet quality was a more important factor for chief executives when it came to selecting a building than rent. WiredScore’s president and EMEA managing director William Newton said: “We all know that connectivity is the lifeblood of modern businesses, but it’s great to learn from our research just how valuable it is to decision makers in Germany. “According to our research, 89% of German executives surveyed agreed that internet connectivity has become an even more important selection criterion than the cost of rent. “Berlin is fast becoming Europe’s latest tech hub, but our research has indicated that 46% of employees suffer from poor connectivity, resulting in lower productivity and a diminished ability to master peaks in workload. Wired Certification addresses this connectivity divide, enabling landlords to offer their tenants a trusted benchmark used globally to measure how well connected a building is.” To send feedback, e-mail emily.wright@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmilyW_9 or @estatesgazette Tech City guide: Berlin Facebook’s Rob Cookson to headline EG’s TechTalk Academy TECHTALK RADIO: Why only Google should do Google; the horror of communal barbecues