IT ratings: the new benchmark for future-proof real estate

From energy label to IT label

The real estate sector has been shaken awake by the energy label in recent years. What once seemed like an administrative formality is now a defining factor for the value, financeability and lettability of buildings. But while everyone focuses on kilowatt-hours and insulation values, a second: equally far-reaching, revolution is quietly unfolding: that of digital infrastructure.

An energy label tells you something about a building's energy efficiency. But what does a building say about available bandwidth, fibre optic and redundancy provisions, internal network structure, data capacity and cyber resilience? Almost nothing. Yet buildings are no longer just concrete boxes. They are digital ecosystems: smart assets, running sensors, access control, climate management, security, EV charging and IoT solutions. All of these systems stand or fall on one fundamental basis: connectivity.

The AI revolution increases the pressure

With the rise of AI, data analytics, edge computing and real-time dashboards, demand for bandwidth is growing explosively. Organisations run AI-driven applications, cloud-first environments, high-definition video conferencing, IoT sensors and predictive maintenance tools. All of these require stable, fast and redundant internet connections.

We are already seeing electricity capacity shortages in parts of the Netherlands. Grid congestion is a reality. But less visible is the growing pressure on digital infrastructure. Fibre networks, backbone capacity and data processing cannot keep pace with demand indefinitely. A building without sufficient digital capacity will become what a building without energy efficiency is today: unattractive, risky and less valuable.

Why this directly affects commercial real estate investors

For commercial real estate investors, digital infrastructure affects every core metric: occupancy rate, rent levels, valuation, risk profile and ESG performance.

Tenants: from scale-ups to multinationals, are raising their connectivity requirements constantly. No redundant connection, no guaranteed uptime? They will look elsewhere. Just as a poor energy label suppresses value, inadequate IT infrastructure will put future cash flows under pressure. Valuers and financiers will increasingly factor this in. And without stable digital infrastructure, a tenant literally cannot operate: no internet means no business, which raises vacancy risk.

Buildings are also increasingly managed through data: energy optimisation, predictive maintenance, occupancy monitoring. Without solid IT infrastructure, this simply does not work. A smart building without a digital backbone is a Ferrari without an engine.

Private individuals are affected too

This is not just about offices and logistics real estate. Working from home has become structural. AI tools, streaming, smart home systems, EV charging and home batteries all require stable connections. A home without good digital infrastructure will lag in value, just as homes with poor energy labels do today.

The looming data shortage

We tend to think of data as unlimited, but behind every gigabyte lies physical infrastructure: data centres, fibre networks, switches and routers, power supply. AI models demand enormous amounts of data and computing power. If the growth of AI continues: which is virtually certain, not only energy congestion but also network congestion will follow. Buildings unprepared for higher data demand will become digital bottlenecks.

What does an IT label actually involve?

An IT label assesses a building across multiple dimensions. External connectivity covers fibre connections, redundancy and maximum bandwidth. Internal infrastructure examines cabling (Cat6/7/8), server rooms and cooling. Smart readiness assesses IoT integration, building management systems and data monitoring. The cybersecurity baseline covers network segmentation and physical protection of IT spaces. Finally, scalability looks at the ability to expand without major renovation. Just as with energy labels, a score provides insight into a building's future-proofness.

IT as a value component

The real estate sector has long regarded IT as a tenant's concern. That is a misconception. Digital infrastructure is just as fundamental as foundations and installations. In a world where data is the new raw material, AI is taking over business processes and real-time information is the norm, a building without high-quality digital infrastructure is simply no longer competitive.

Buildings are no longer passive objects: they are active, data-driven assets. Investors who invest in digital infrastructure reduce future vacancy risk, increase asset value, lend credibility to ESG strategies and make their portfolio AI-proof. The question is not whether IT labels will matter. The question is when financiers, tenants and regulators will make them mandatory.

Conclusion

The energy transition has taught us that infrastructure determines property value. The digital transition will do so even more forcefully. Grid congestion shows that physical limits exist; the AI revolution increases pressure on both electricity and data. In that context, an IT label is not a luxury: it is a prerequisite. Anyone who wants their real estate to perform in a digital economy must invest in more than insulation and solar panels. The future of real estate is not only sustainable: it is digital.