 |
 |
||
|
|
||
Liberty Global's helloFiber gets going in GermanyLiberty Networks Germany, a 50/50 fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) JV of Liberty Global Ventures and InfraVia Capital, has unveiled a new brand and introduced a mix of initial service packages as the unit gets ready to start buildouts in a part of Brandenburg. Under the helloFiber brand, Liberty Networks Germany is seeking out areas to deploy FTTP networks. That will plan is starting off with constriction of an area-wide FTTP network in Petershagen-Eggersdorf, Brandenburg, a buildout set to cover more than 7,000 homes and businesses and take about two years to complete.
The home page of the muni-focused helloFiber touts a message of fiber for the community. The new brand and details of that initial deployment arrive more than a month after the public introduction of Liberty Networks Germany, a unit that will assess opportunities for FTTP networks in greenfield areas of Germany. The general idea is to take a "modular approach" by targeting a relatively small number of underserved German municipalities in phase one, and possibly open to more investment and deployments based on the success of that initial work. "The aim is to quickly create opportunities for individual fiber connections as a reliable partner for municipalities," Robert Dunn, managing director, connectivity investments at Liberty Global, said in a statement. The JV formed a couple years after Liberty Global exited the German market in 2019 after selling off its assets in the country, along with its operations in Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic, to Vodafone. The JV in Germany is a "new opportunity" for Liberty Global, Charles Bracken, Liberty Global's EVP and CFO, said last month. "We definitely feel that we have a lot of scale, a lot of efficiencies from our core network builds across Europe, which make us a more attractive and a lower-cost builder of fiber in Germany than perhaps a standalone start." Germany "has little to no fiber, and our objective is to look for areas where there's essentially no competition," added Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries. "So, it's a very targeted small initiative to begin with, and we'll see how it unfolds." Initial packaging and pricing Time will tell how broad of a net Liberty Networks Germany will cast, but the JV did unveil several service packages led by broadband, including some price breaks during the first six months of service. By tier, here's a snapshot of those options.
Depending on the package, customers can add a flat-rate mobile service for an extra 14.99 per month ($16.96). helloFiber's site also promotes Waipu.TV, a video streaming service featuring more than 150 channels, including about 125 in HD.
Related posts:
— Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading A version of this story first appeared on Light Reading. |
Latest Articles
Here's where you can find episode links for 'The Divide,' Light Reading's podcast series featuring conversations with broadband providers and policymakers working to close the digital divide.
As we have for the past two years, Light Reading will present our Cable Next-Gen Europe conference as a free digital symposium on June 21.
Charter has sparked RDOF work in all 24 states where it won bids. The cable op booked about $19 million in RDOF revenues in Q1, and expects to have about $9 million per month come in over the next ten years.
As we have for the past two years, Light Reading will stage the Cable Next-Gen Technologies & Strategies conference as a free digital event over two half-days in mid-March.
Launch of 2-Gig and 5-Gig FTTP tiers in 70-plus markets puts more pressure on cable ops to enhance their existing DOCSIS 3.1 network or accelerate their upgrade activity centered on the new DOCSIS 4.0 specs.
 WebinarsARCHIVED
Thursday, August 4, 2022
11:00 a.m. New York / 4:00 p.m. London The digital divide in North America is leaving millions without adequate broadband. Incumbents operate in islands of connectivity, serving densely populated areas and, at a national scale, perpetuating the digital divide in the gaps in between their service footprints. Regional ISPs have a clear role in closing that gap. These regional ISPs operate in a highly fragmented landscape, including smaller wireless and FTTH incumbents, satellite ISPs, electric co-ops, tribal communities, and municipalities in public/private partnerships. These regional ISPs face the same cyber threats and operational challenges as their Tier 1 counterparts, but with far fewer resources and revenue-generating population density. As a result, many regional ISPs have developed highly innovated business models for access and core technology, partnerships, financing and services. The discussion will cover:
|
|
|
||
