Telekom Deutschland, the domestic fixed and mobile operating unit of Deutsche Telekom (DT), is accelerating its rollout of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks and expects to lay 40,000km of fibre-optic cables this year, up from the 30,000km originally planned, with a further 60,000km planned for deployment next year. The telco has revealed that it is trialling a new marketing strategy which will see FTTH pilot projects launched in smaller towns. Starting with Bad Staffelstein in Franconia, residents will be able to register for a fibre-optic line and if a minimum of 750 orders are received during the pre-marketing phase, the FTTH network will be built out to the community by the end of 2018. Further pilot towns in Baden-Wurttemberg, Hesse, Saxony and Thuringia are to follow early next year.
Business parks are a particular focus of the FTTH rollout, alongside subsidised expansion activities and partnerships with competitors. Telekom says it fibre-optic network now totals 455,000km in length.