German regional telecoms operator NetCologne plans to expand its fiber-optic network to an additional 22 districts of Cologne over the next two years. The expansion work will enable a further 50,000 households and businesses to access the firm’s fibre-optic services in the city, including the areas of Bocklemund, Ehrenfeld, Meschenich, Riehl and Weiden. At present, the network covers 72% of homes and businesses in Cologne, but this is set to rise to almost 80% by the end of 2024. NetCologne says that it will also allow its competitors to lease the open access fibre network to enable them to provide telecoms services to customers.
‘We want everyone in Cologne with fast internet to be able to take advantage of the benefits of digitisation in the near future. Cologne should become one of the smartest and most sustainable cities in Germany. That’s why we’re expanding what is already the largest fibre-optic network in the region at breakneck speed,’ said Timo von Lepel, Managing Director of NetCologne, adding: ‘We are convinced that the expansion of the fibre-optic network is best achieved through cooperation and fair competition. That’s why we also enable other providers to access our fibre-optic network via open access.’
