VolkerWessels Telecom, the telecoms division of Dutch construction company VolkerWessels, has choosen the Prysmian Group to supply FTTH cable for 2012 deployments. Draka will execute the contract, which the Prysmian Group says is the first Dutch multi-city agreement of its kind.
Draka becomes the sole provider of cabling and related materials for VolkerWessels Telecom as it rolls out a series of FTTH projects in the Netherlands. The company expects to reach 48,000 homes in five townships throughout the Netherlands, possibly extending to 63,000 households. Construction will begin in phased stages in January and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.
The new FTTH regional networks are an expansion of the Reggefiber nationwide fiber network, which currently covers 110 municipalities in the Netherlands. The network extensions come as Dutch national service provider KPN has announced its intentions to increase its ownership stake in Reggefiber (see “KPN seeks control of Reggefiber to strengthen FTTH hand”).
“We’re pleased to appoint Draka as our trusted partner for this extensive FTTH project,” said Arjan ten Hove, director VolkerWessels Telecom FTTH. ”Draka and VolkerWessels have established a close working relationship based upon past successes. We will build upon this with this first multi-city arrangement that allows us to work closely on joint innovations for these townships and communities.”
Draka estimates that the project requirements will include over 1,100 km of fiber-optic cable and 6,200 km of direct buried fiber access cable, together with the ducts, micro-tubes, ODF drawers, and cabinets required to complete the installation.