Together with another company, Vodafone would like to lay fiber optics quickly. Brussels gives the green light for cooperation. Now the ambitious goals have to be implemented.
The telecommunications group Vodafone is making progress on a multi-billion dollar project to expand fiber optics in Germany. The EU Commission announced on Monday that the planned joint venture between Vodafone and the Luxembourg financial holding Altice had been approved. The new company is to invest up to seven billion euros in six years and lay fiber optics in up to seven million households.
Vodafone Germany boss Philippe Rogge spoke of the starting signal for even more fiber optics in Germany. “We will bring the first customers online this year,” he told dpa.
Joining forces with a financially strong partner is common in the industry. Vodafone’s competitors Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica also followed a similar path. Vodafone is still lagging behind when it comes to “Fiber to the Home” (FTTH), i.e. fiber optics right into the home. In Germany, the company relies primarily on high-speed Internet via television cable. With the new joint venture, Vodafone wants to get more involved in future fiber optic technology.
