Liberty Global shutters helloFiber German FTTH joint venture
Liberty Global has decided to shut down the helloFiber joint venture it launched with InfraVia Capital Partners to deploy and operate fiber to the home (FTTH) networks in Germany, reports Broadband TV News. helloFiber CEO Dr. Christian Böing told the media outlet that “changing macroeconomic factors” led to the decision.
Those factors include inflation, current interest rates, and access to external capital. Böing also cited rising costs for fiber deployments, a shortage of construction resources, and challenges reaching engagements with suitable communities.
helloFiber was the brand name for Liberty Networks Germany, which Liberty Global and InfraVia Capital Partners launched in December 2021 (see “Liberty Global launches Liberty Networks Germany for FTTH”). The joint venture initially targeted Petershagen-Eggersdorf, Brandenburg, where the company expected to reach more than 7,000 homes and businesses with FTTH/FTTP in the succeeding two years. When the joint venture was first announced in September 2021, the partners said they would begin with an initial deployment before deciding on further expansion (see “Liberty Global Ventures teams with Infravia Capital Partners for German FTTH joint venture”). In a statement issued to Broadband TV News, a Liberty Networks Germany source said such an evaluation had been ongoing for the past 12 months and led to the decision to stop deployments.
Böing told Broadband TV News that the venture has filed for insolvency and that a preliminary insolvency administrator has been appointed.
For related articles, visit the Business Topic Center.
For more information on FTTx technology and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.
To stay abreast of fiber network deployments, subscribe to Lightwave’s Service Providers and Datacom/Data Center newsletters.
Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.