On 23 April, Deutsche Glasfaser connected its first customers to the fibre optic network in Vettelschoß (Rhineland-Palatinate) using a new network concept.
The first technical sites were set up in February. The new central offices, the new fibre optic main distribution frames, form the basis for the next technical evolutionary stage in the fibre optic expansion. Not only do they take up less space than the previously used points of presence (PoP), they are also more powerful thanks to the use of new hardware and active technology.
Less consumption of resources
„Fast-to-build, energy-efficient networks must be our common goal in fibre optic expansion“, says Pascal Koster, COO of Deutsche Glasfaser. „Our new network concept reduces the power consumption per customer in the network to a third of that of conventional fibre optic networks. These in turn only have 20 % of the energy requirements of copper networks.“
The electricity savings result, among other things, from a concentration of active technology and state-of-the-art, heat-resistant hardware components that do not need to be air-conditioned.
„A huge contribution to greater sustainability in the infrastructure, which is flanked by the use of resource-saving, minimally invasive construction methods - such as the milling machine or the earth rocket“, continues Koster.
Use of more environmentally friendly construction methods, fewer sites
According to Christian Duer, CRO of Deutsche Glasfaser, the new network concept uses the resource-saving DIN 18220 standard during construction, which ultimately also benefits local residents who are exposed to less stress thanks to faster construction using trenching and milling methods.
„With the new network concept, we are reducing the required footprint for technical sites per customer by around 90 %“, explains Christian Würth, project manager at Deutsche Glasfaser. „The main sites will be considerably smaller, we are moving parts of the network infrastructure into shafts under the pavement and, last but not least, we need far fewer sites.“ This is an important argument for the acceptance of the new infrastructure, especially in rural regions „with well-kept townscapes“.
Maintaining the pace of expansion despite difficult conditions
Due to the current lack of construction capacity, cost increases, inflation and overbuilding, the industry is struggling with problems. It is precisely in this phase that Deutsche Glasfaser is focusing on the fibre optic network of the future.
With the new network concept, the digital provider for the regions is realising the network concept of the FTTH Council Europe and, following initial pilot projects, is planning to implement it in all expansion projects with the aim of maintaining and even increasing the pace of network expansion in the future despite difficult framework conditions.
This will enable customers in rural areas - such as the people in Vettelschoß - to enjoy increasingly future-proof digital participation.
