Draka Communications won a European consulting, licensing, and training contract with e.wa riss Netze, a fiber services venture jointly owned by the public utility of the city of Biberach and EnBW, an energy provider for southwest Germany.
Draka staff will evolve e.wa riss Networks’ existing high-speed fiber network serving the citizens of Biberach through the application of its FTTH expertise and DrakaXSNet FTTH Software Suite.
“We are now implementing new, cost-effective development processes to support the planning, expansion, and documentation of our fiber network,” says Michael Preiss, CEO of e.wa riss Netze GmbH. “In Draka, we have found an innovative partner with a wealth of knowledge to bring to our fiber network projects.”
Officials at e.wa riss Netze selected DrakaXSNet for its flexibility and cost efficiency when constructing FTTx networks, reveals a company representative. During a test phase with DrakaXSNet, they adopted a new approach to the development of the broadband network.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to Biberach’s community fiber network development, as well as being an excellent reference for other local authority projects around Europe,” says Edgar Aker, director of marketing and product management, Draka Communications Telecom Solutions, EMEA.
With network planning company E9, e.wa riss Netze began building the fiber infrastructure for its ewacom-branded fiber services in Biberach. Services began in January 2010, offering business areas and residents of Biberach triple-play service packages with flat-rate options and speeds of 50 Mb/s up to 150 Mb/s.
Located in southwestern Germany, Biberach has a population of 32,000 and is a significant industrial location within the area. The regional utility and energy companies realized that building a high-performance broadband infrastructure would be an important pillar for the development of the community, ensuring a high level of universal services for businesses and citizens, says a representative.
In 2009, e.wa riss Netze GmbH was set up as a 50% joint venture between the utility companies, focusing on the essential activities of a distribution network provider--managing the installation/construction, development, and the marketing of power and gas grids. The optical fiber network has now become an important division of e.wa riss Netze.
DrakaXSNet--a passive network building resource with miniaturized fiber-optic components with network project design, planning, documentation, implementation and maintenance--is based on an econometric model designed to provide lower costs and control over capital (CAPEX) and operating expenses (OPEX).