- High-speed internet deployment is currently underway as a trial initiative.
BBV Germany will postpone achieving comprehensive high-speed internet via fiber optic networks in the Neckar-Odenwald district by two years, reaching the goal in 2024 instead of 2022 as initially planned. The district confirmed this upon request. The company has now revised its timeline to complete the project by the end of 2026, aiming to maintain its position as a pioneer nationwide. Notably, the project financing will be entirely private, with no reliance on tax or subsidy funds. This poses a challenge in rural areas, where distances are vast and expansion costs are high.
As per the Broadband Atlas of the Federal Ministry of Transport, merely 10.48% of households in the Neckar-Odenwald district have access to a top-tier fiber optic cable at least up to the building. This places the rural district behind the modest figures for Baden-Württemberg (18.87%) and Germany (32.08%) as a whole. The federal government's ambition is to provide the entire nation with comprehensive fiber optic infrastructure by 2030. District Administrator Achim Brötel (CDU) declared at the project's inception in 2021, "The Neckar-Odenwald district will become the first district in Germany to receive fiber optic in all 27 communities without a penny of tax or subsidy funds."
At present, households acquire a download speed of 100 megabits per second throughout the district via copper cables. BBV Germany pledges up to 1000 megabits per second for download with the fiber optic connection.
By October 2023, the Neckar-Odenwald district claims that 50% of the construction work for the fiber optic network expansion was completed. However, the project's pace has slowed down in recent months due to escalating costs and the lethargic construction industry.
BBV Germany will prioritize activating existing fiber optic internet connections, as stated in a press release. Additionally, the company aims to utilize opportunities for co-laying pipelines and cables, such as during street repair work. Over 1,300 kilometers of underground routes must be laid in the district, involving more than 43,000 buildings.
The company anticipates investing around 135 million euros - approximately 15 million euros more than initially planned in 2021. Initially, BBV Germany had targeted 13,500 contracts with private households in the Neckar-Odenwald district for project implementation. By the project's commencement in June 2021, around 24,000 households and businesses had signed contracts, according to the district. The company does not disclose the current contract count, citing competition.
Other providers are anticipated to have access to the networks as well. BBV Germany derives value from the project not only through revenue from the signed contracts but also from the utilization of its own networks by other providers. BBV Germany does not seem to have such a project in operation in any other district. In the adjacent Main-Tauber district, the company is active but significantly lags behind in expansion.
For years, telephone cables have been employed for residential internet connections in Germany. Television cables also played a significant role in internet use. Regarding fiber optic, Germany lagged behind, with significant investments made solely in recent years.
The Federal Ministry of Transport has set a goal for Germany to have comprehensive fiber optic infrastructure nationwide by 2030. Despite BBV Germany's delay in achieving high-speed internet via fiber optic networks in the Neckar-Odenwald district, they continue to strive for this, now aiming to complete the project by 2026. [Federal Ministry of Transport]
