Wiesbaden, 28.02.2024 – Wolfsburg and Emsdetten are Germany’s first “real fiber optic municipalities”. At fiberdays24, the cities from Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia were honored by the German Broadband Association (BREKO) for their nationwide fiber optic expansion.

With immediate effect, BREKO is awarding the title “Genuine fiber-optic municipality” to cities and municipalities in which the proportion of available fiber-optic connections in relation to the total number of all households and companies is more than 90 percent. According to the BREKO market analysis 2023, this fiber optic ratio averages 35.6% throughout Germany.

Roman Skrodzki, State Policy Officer at BREKO: “Wolfsburg and Emsdetten started to drive forward the expansion of fiber optics at an early stage and paved the way to the digital future for their citizens, companies and administration. They are thus role models for other municipalities and have shown what is important when expanding digital infrastructure: close and effective cooperation with the companies expanding fiber optics, for example through fast approval procedures. Good communication with local people in order to overcome any reservations. And, of course, the conviction that only fiber optics will make digital solutions for sustainable development possible in the long term.”

Dennis Weilmann, Lord Mayor of Wolfsburg: “A comprehensive broadband connection is fundamental for a modern infrastructure and strengthens the competitiveness of a city. The expansion of fiber optics in Wolfsburg is therefore of crucial importance for the city’s development, both as a place to live and as a business location. The award as a ‘real fiber-optic municipality’ confirms our efforts in this area and is an important milestone on the way to becoming a smart city.”

Oliver Kellner, Mayor of the city of Emsdetten: “We are delighted to receive the ‘Real Fiber Optic Municipality’ award for the first time this year and see this as confirmation of our efforts to create optimal digital framework conditions for the citizens and businesses in Emsdetten. Above all, I would like to thank my employees, especially the Smart City team, as well as the district of Steinfurt for their many years of support in the expansion of fiber optics, which we intend to complete this year with the final expansion measures by our Emsdetten municipal utility and its communications subsidiary tkrz. The award is a great tribute to the work of all those involved.”

The “Echte Glasfaser-Kommune” is a new part of the “Fiber for Future” initiative, under which BREKO has been awarding prizes to politicians and network operators for several years. Further information can be found at fiberforfuture.de.

Municipalities with a fiber optic ratio of over 90 percent can apply to the BREKO for the “Real Fiber Optic Municipality” seal by e-mail: skrodzki@brekoverband.de