How can a small village in Germany be more digital than big cities like Tokyo or Hong Kong? What did residents do to achieve the digital success story of their municipality?

Etteln

Etteln, a village in northern Germany with a population of 1,750, has been named the world's most digital city after winning a global competition organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The village outperformed major cities such as Hong Kong and Tokyo, drawing attention from communities worldwide.

Etteln's success is attributed to its community-driven digital initiatives, including a village app for ride-sharing, local commerce, and government updates, as well as an online digital twin of the village. The community also installed high-speed internet through volunteer work, implemented smart energy solutions, and embraced renewable energy, resulting in lower electricity costs for residents. The digital transformation has fostered a strong sense of community and improved quality of life.

Germany's Etteln jumps to the top of world's smartest cities

The northern German village of Ettel, population 1,750. Agriculture and tradition still shape everyday life. Many are involved in the music society. It looks like a typical German village at first, but Ettel is Germany's most digital village. In 2024, it won a global competition held by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, beating cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo. Now, representatives from other communities visit regularly. The local representative shows how to reach nearby Dürrenhagen without a car, when the bus isn't running. You can press a button, look, Dürrenhagen, 1, and it appears at the top, but that's not the special part. What is special is that for 15 minutes, our village app shows someone is at the ride-sharing bench and wants a ride to Dürrenhagen. Half of Ettel's residents have the app on their phones. Others can use the same feature on screens throughout the village. Our village app shows local buying and selling. Residents can see what others are offering or looking for. That's just one example. It also shows invitations to past events, like yesterday's info-session at the community center. Plus news from the town hall and local government updates. Ettel has a digital twin online, a realistic replica of the village. Users can find weather data, stream water levels in case of flooding, and check whether the recycling containers for second-hand clothing still have space. To avoid clothing and garment bags being left next to full containers, we've installed a sensor in the roof that monitors the fill level and can be checked online. Even the village EV can be booked online, free of charge. This service is especially popular with the village's senior citizens. There's a breakfast group on our street. We drive there sometimes. The car is for the soccer players, the kids, and for private use, too. If the family car is out and you need to get somewhere fast, you take it if it's available. You can book ahead online. It's easy. En route to the edge of the village. Years ago, locals decided every farm, no matter how remote, should have high-speed internet. To cut costs, they rolled up their sleeves and got to work, putting in 3,500 hours of volunteer work and laying 30 kilometers of fiber-optic cable. The main job is laying the empty conduits. I brought one along. The empty conduits are laid, and then the fiber-optics are blown in. Broadband connections also let farmers work in completely new ways. Some monitor their animals' feeding via video cameras. The fiber-optic connection helps others repair tractors and other agricultural equipment. Ordering spare parts online has been a real help. After several break-ins in the machine hall, we added a security system with cameras. There haven't been any more break-ins on the farm since cameras were installed everywhere. Broadband produces 34 times more electricity than it consumes, green electricity from biogas, solar and wind. Due to the battery storage facility in the village, there is always enough electricity. And residents pay a third less than in other parts of Germany. Some farmers have made land available for wind turbines. The villagers are pragmatic, even when it comes to choosing where to host their servers. Our digitalization platform is hosted and operated in a data center in a wind turbine, pretty much right where the electricity is generated. The community sticks together, which is one reason why digitalization is working here. The local representative is a former manager and IT professional who regularly discusses upcoming projects with residents. A drone for the fire department, or video consultations with the local doctor. This project created a real sense of community. It was genuinely enjoyable to build something together, and I think we did a good job of transferring the same willingness and spirit we bring to offline projects into the digital world. Digitalization is like a brass band. It only works when many people play along and harmonize with each other.

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