Deutsche Telekom, EWE launch German FTTH network provider Glasfaser Nordwest
Deutsche Telekom and German utility EWE have launched Glasfaser Nordwest, a fiber to the home (FTTH) network provider focused, at least initially, on offering FTTH infrastructure in parts of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bremen. The joint venture company will leverage the fiber infrastructure of its two parents but is said to be open to using infrastructure from third parties. Glasfaser Nordwest will spend up to 2 billion euros on FTTH network expansion over the next 10 years in hopes of reaching 1.5 million homes and businesses, its parents assert.
The company launch comes just over two years after Deutsche Telekom and EWE signed a non-binding agreement to initiate the joint venture (see "Deutsche Telekom and EWE agree to expand fiber-optic network footprint in northwest Germany"). The new company will be headquartered in Oldenburg in Lower Saxony. Christoph Meurer and Oliver Prostak will serve as Glasfaser Nordwest’s two managing directors. Meurer was head of strategic cooperation at EWE TEL in Oldenburg and previously head of order and technical service management and project manager, FTTH at EWE TEL. Prostak served most recently as market development manager in Sales Control at the Wholesale Center at Telekom Deutschland in Bonn.
Glasfaser Nordwest will begin FTTH network build outs in in Belm and Cloppenburg, followed by Achim, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Delmenhorst, Emsdetten, Georgsmarienhütte, Oldenburg, Stade, Tostedt, Weyhe, and Vechta. The company expects to be able to link service providers to on-net customers later this year. The company likely will build networks in some underserved areas; regions deemed “completely uneconomical” and dependent on government support will not be addressed for antitrust reasons, said Deutsche Telekom and EWE.
“Today is a very good day for northwest Germany. One and a half million households and company locations should benefit from the fact that two strong companies have come together. Glasfaser Nordwest brings high-speed into the city and the country - and I am pleased that our efforts for cooperation have paid off,” commented Dirk Wössner, head of Deutsche Telekom.
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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.
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