Bonn, 15.01.2025 The Bundesverband Breitbandkommunikation e.V. (BREKO) will bundle the open access expertise and cooperation experience of its more than 520 member companies in regular dialog formats in the future. In a virtual kick-off event with more than 180 representatives of telecommunications network operators, seven companies presented different fiber optic cooperation models.

“Cooperation and open access agreements between companies are becoming increasingly important for fiber optic expansion in Germany. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution, but many different models of how companies can work together to advance fiber optic expansion. We want to highlight this wide range of possibilities in order to actively promote the trend towards cooperation and support other companies in finding the right model for them,” said BREKO Managing Director Dr. Stephan Albers, opening the online event. Moderator Dr. Ernst-Olav Ruhle, CEO of SBR-net Consulting AG, emphasized the importance of designing each cooperation in such a way that the strengths of both partners are optimally utilized in order to leverage maximum synergies.

Diverse cooperation models

Seven fiber optic network operators presented cooperations in detailed practical reports: Stadtwerke Neumünster, NetCologne, GELSEN-NET, Westconnect, htp, R-KOM and Stadtwerke Münster. Their cooperation models differ both in the distribution of the value creation levels among the participating companies as well as in the investment conditions, the technical implementation and the selected partner companies – from smaller municipal utilities to nationwide fiber optic companies and Deutsche Telekom.

Companies share expertise and experience

In conclusion, Albers emphasized the enormous know-how that more than 250 companies are contributing to this new BREKO dialogue platform: Almost all alternative network operators investing in real fiber optic networks are organized in BREKO. The association is therefore ideally positioned to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience between the companies. Specifically, all companies that presented their cooperation models at the kick-off event offer interested network operators the opportunity to contact them directly for an in-depth exchange.

Regular exchange planned

The next online event of the dialog platform is already being planned and is set to take place in the first quarter of 2025. There will be a panel discussion on the topic of cooperation as part of the digital and fiber optic trade fair fiberdays, which will take place on 2 and 3 April in Frankfurt am Main, as well as the opportunity for individual exchange in the “World Café” format.