PRESS RELEASE
Gigabit internet for 46 communities in Schleswig-Holstein
Tele Columbus successfully completes expansion of optical fibre network in Plön district
– Infrastructure project finished after three years of construction
– Gigabit internet for 12,000 households in 46 communities
– Future-proof infrastructure thanks to FTTH technology
Berlin, 14 January 2021. After more than three years of construction, Tele Columbus AG has successfully completed the expansion of the FTTH optical fibre network in the northern German district of Plön. Forty-six communities in the district are now connected to the high-performance infrastructure that enables some 12,000 households to access fast internet service with bandwidths of up to 1 Gbit/s. Upon completion of the project, the optical fibre network was handed over to Zweckverband für Breitbandversorgung im Kreis Plön, a specially formed alliance of local communities dedicated to the expansion of broadband internet service in the area. pepcom GmbH, a subsidiary of Tele Columbus AG, operates the new network. Under the PŸUR brand, it provides all connected households with fast internet, TV and telephone service.
Construction of the network, one of the largest broadband projects in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, started in June 2017. Following completion of the four phases, the network now totals roughly 700 kilometres in length throughout the district. In addition to the approximately 12,000 households already served, another 4,000 households can also be connected to the new network at any time. As part of the expansion work, a total of 8,400 building connections were laid. By successfully completing the project, Tele Columbus and Zweckverband für Breitbandversorgung im Kreis Plön – which was set up specifically to promote the expansion of the optical fibre network in the district – are helping to keep the area’s rural communities competitive for the future.
Modern fibre to the home (FTTH) technology brings optical fibre connections directly into customers’ houses, allowing them to achieve gigabit internet speeds. Should data traffic increase, the network can also be upgraded without the need for any additional excavation. Depending on demand, the concept opens the door to bandwidths significantly higher than 1 gigabit. For private customers with lower bandwidth needs, PŸUR provides affordable internet plans with data rates of 120, 200 and 500 Mbit/s.
“We are very happy about the successful completion of our ambitious infrastructure project in the district of Plön,” says Frank Hornberger, Managing Director of pepcom GmbH. “Thanks to the municipal optical fibre network, the rural communities have built an excellent foundation for the technological future. The finished project is a further piece in the puzzle with regard to the Tele Columbus Group’s ambitious plans to play a leading role in the expansion of optical fibre technology in Germany.”
“It’s good to see how our partnership with Zweckverband für Breitbandversorgung im Kreis Plön and our intensive customer support on the ground has paid off,” says Rüdiger Schmidt, Chief Sales Officer Housing Industry & Infrastructure at Tele Columbus AG. “At roughly 230 town hall meetings and 65 information events, we were able to convince most of the households of the advantages of a state-of-the-art network infrastructure. We are now focusing on the operation of the optical fibre network and will also be able to offer our customers in the Plön district tailored internet, high-definition television and telephony packages going forward.”
About us
Tele Columbus AG is one of Germany’s leading fibre network operators which reaches more than 3 million homes. Via its brand PŸUR, the Company, offers high-speed internet including telephony and more than 250 TV channels. All of this via a digital entertainment platform that combines linear TV with video on demand entertainment. To its housing association partners the Tele Columbus Group offers tailored models of cooperation and state-of-the-art services such as telemetric and tenant portals. As a full-service partner for municipalities and regional utilities, the Company is actively supporting the fibre-based infrastructure and broadband internet expansion in Germany. For its business customers the Group offers carrier services and corporate solutions on its proprietary fibre network. Besides its headquarter in Berlin, the Company has locations in Hamburg, Leipzig, Ratingen and Unterföhring/Munich. Since January 2015, Tele Columbus AG is listed on the regulated market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock exchange.
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