With its Network Concept 4.0, Deutsche Glasfaser, as a driver of innovation in the German telecommunications industry, is once again the first company to combine state-of-the-art hardware components with pioneering process technology.
In Vettelschoß in Rhineland-Palatinate, Deutsche Glasfaser has already connected its first customers to the fibre optic network using a new network concept.
After the first technical sites were set up in February, the network has now gone live just a few weeks later. The new central offices, the new fibre optic main distribution frames, form the basis of the next technical evolutionary stage in the fibre optic expansion. They are significantly more space-saving than the previously used points of presence (PoP) and are also more powerful thanks to the use of new hardware and active technology.
Use of minimally invasive processes
„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 energy 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 more 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.“
„And this is to the benefit of our customers“, explains Christian Duer, CRO of Deutsche Glasfaser. „Thanks to the new network concept, we can make even better use of the resource-saving DIN 18220 standard in construction, which means we are faster and residents are less inconvenienced.“ DIN 18220, which was largely driven forward by Deutsche Glasfaser, sets out general principles for the use of trenching and milling methods, which significantly simplify and speed up work, especially in inner-city areas. „In Deutsche Glasfaser's new network concept, the central offices can also be placed on the outskirts of the village and no playground or open space in the village has to be misappropriated.“
Reducing the size of central offices through underground network infrastructure
The technical components that Deutsche Glasfaser installs in the central locations - known as central offices - are significantly smaller and require less space in addition to being more energy efficient. „With the new network concept, we are reducing the space required 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 areas with well-kept townscapes.
In recent years, the pace of expansion with fibre optic connections to the home has fortunately accelerated nationwide. This means that Germany is gradually catching up with other countries in the area of future-proof fibre optic infrastructure.
Increase the speed of expansion
However, issues such as a lack of construction capacity, rising costs, inflation and the strategic superstructure are currently weighing on the markets.
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. The aim is to maintain the expansion speed of recent years despite difficult framework conditions and to further increase it in the future.
„Shaping great things together“ is the motto under which Deutsche Glasfaser is investing in infrastructure expansion in Germany. With new ideas, mature concepts and innovative processes, the company is realising the network of the future even in the current difficult market environment. The telecommunications company is thus enabling real digital participation for people in rural areas. The people of Vettelschoß in the Rhineland-Palatinate district of Neuwied can already look forward to future-proof fibre optic connections.
(Quelle: Deutsche Glasfaser)
