Bonn/Mühlheim am Main, 08 July 2021 The German Broadband Association (BREKO) and the Hessian Association of Towns and Municipalities (HSGB) discussed solutions for accelerating fiber optic expansion in Hesse together with Hessian municipalities at a virtual workshop yesterday. The focus was on the potential and increased use of modern installation methods.

Modern installation methods not only allow significantly more households to be connected to the fiber optic network in the same construction time as conventional civil engineering. The methods also contribute to greater sustainability in expansion due to the low intensity of intervention and the associated lower use of materials. Using examples of best practice, the participants in today’s workshop worked together to develop ways in which these methods can be used much more widely on site.

Hesse’s Digital Minister Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus thanked BREKO and HSBG for their commitment to this important topic: “A high-performance infrastructure is an indispensable prerequisite for the digitalization of Hesse. We will therefore be building gigabit networks throughout the state by 2025 and laying fiber optic cables directly to homes by 2030. Events like these help us to make rapid progress in broadband expansion. Market-driven expansion is a clear priority for us. The approval and use of innovative laying methods such as trenching plays a key role in this – through faster and more cost-effective expansion.”

The construction company Klenk & Sohn and the telecommunications company Deutsche Glasfaser demonstrated how modern installation methods can be used successfully on site. Together with Groß-Umstadt’s mayor Joachim Ruppert, representatives of both companies responsible for the expansion explained the experience and knowledge they have gained from using modern installation methods in jointly completed expansion projects. Their conclusion: expansion projects can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively thanks to the ability to select the right expansion method for the local conditions from a range of installation methods.

Johannes Heger, Managing Director of the Hess. Städte- und Gemeindebund, pointed out the importance of a comprehensive expansion of fiber optic networks for rural areas, as a high-quality Internet connection is essential to ensure attractive conditions for citizens and companies in the municipalities. At the same time, he emphasized that this also posed a considerable challenge for the municipal side, as the entire infrastructure of public roads would be affected by this expansion and this would largely be the responsibility and maintenance obligation of the cities and municipalities.

BREKO Managing Director Dr. Stephan Albers emphasized the importance of using modern installation methods to further accelerate the expansion of fiber optics: “It is crucial for the success of the expansion that the possibilities for accelerating the expansion are present in the local administrations and are consistently implemented. In addition, the standardization of modern and proven installation methods, which are no longer niche methods and are already being used successfully by more and more of our 220 network operators in many places, can provide an important impetus for even greater acceptance. The ongoing standardization process must be geared towards accelerating the expansion and must now be finalized quickly. It is important that not only the telecommunications companies but also the construction industry is aware of its responsibility to accelerate the expansion as much as possible and that all existing possibilities are used to this end. Germany will not make faster progress by ‘carrying on as before’ and sticking to familiar structures and expansion solutions.”

In the question and answer sessions at the event, the great interest of the Hessian municipalities in the use of modern installation methods became clear. Following today’s workshop, BREKO and HSGB will therefore discuss how they can support local authorities in the further implementation on site.