A particularly inexpensive, homogeneous and porous gas diffusion electrode is produced with at least one electrically conducting water-repellent and gas-permeable gas diffusion layer containing a mechanically stable support material impregnated with at least one electrically conducting material of bulk conductivity equal too or in excess of 10 mS/cm. The gas diffusion electrode can be coated with a catalytically active layer. The claimed electrodes are especially suitable for use in fuel or electrolysis cells.