Fiber Optic Expansion: It Gets Difficult Indoors
Fibre-optic expansion in Germany is speeding up, with new partnerships targeting apartment buildings and rural areas. Deutsche GigaNetz has secured public funding for projects in Kefenrod and Schwäbisch, while OXG and Lotenik are teaming up with specialists to simplify in-building installations. These moves aim to bring faster broadband to more households across the country.
Deutsche GigaNetz has launched two state-backed fibre projects. In Kefenrod, a €500,000 investment will extend connections to 26 addresses, covering 40 residential units. A larger initiative in Schwäbisch, west of Heilbronn, will link 117 addresses with over 200 housing units by 2026, supported by €3.3 million in public funds.
Meanwhile, the company has partnered with Lotenik media to streamline fibre rollouts in apartment blocks. Under the deal, Deutsche GigaNetz will provide active equipment up to the basement, while Lotenik handles internal wiring. Andreas Bätz-Hammer, Lotenik’s managing director, called the collaboration a 'seamless interaction' between outdoor and indoor network levels, predicting faster installations. Wolfram Thielen, Deutsche GigaNetz’s revenue chief, also highlighted Lotenik’s expertise in network management.
OXG, a joint venture between Vodafone and Altice, has joined forces with Kabel Baumann and Rehnig BAK Breitbandnetze & Kabelfernsehen. The partnership focuses on bringing fibre into multi-unit buildings, where complex regulations often slow progress. Separately, Deutsche GigaNetz has teamed up with NetCologne Energie & Netz GmbH, which is currently expanding fibre networks in Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, and parts of Cologne under Germany’s Gigabitförderung programme.
The new agreements will help overcome technical and regulatory hurdles in apartment buildings. With public funding and specialised partners, fibre coverage is set to grow in both urban and rural areas. The projects aim to deliver high-speed broadband to thousands of additional households in the coming years.
