Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone are expanding their cooperation. The existing contingent contract, which gives Vodafone access to Telekom’s copper network, is being extended by ten years and expanded to include fiber optics. In future, Vodafone will not only be able to market VDSL connections, but also direct fiber optic connections (FTTH) on the Telekom network. The fixed network partnership complements the existing mobile network cooperation, the companies announced on Tuesday.

Already since 2013, Vodafone says it also uses copper connections from Telekom, which it sells to its end customers. With VDLS and vectoring from Telekom, Vodafone can offer fast Internet connections even where its own cable network is not sufficient. It benefits from the agreement because it makes better use of its network.

Telekom gives FTTH a boost Just last week, Telekom boss Tim Höttges advertised fiber optic cooperations at an event in order to be able to supply all German households with fiber optics up to 2030. “We can’t manage this infrastructure change on our own – but we don’t want that either.” The Bonn network is open to all competitors as long as Deutsche Telekom has access to other networks under the same conditions.

The trend towards cooperation between the three major German network operators continues. When taking over Unitymedia, Vodafone had to open its cable network to a competitor on the instructions of the Cartel Office, and Telefónica took this opportunity. Telekom has also opened its fiber optic network for Telefónica. And Vodafone and Telekom also work together in the mobile communications sector. In addition, the competitors agree on the expansion of so-called white spots.

The regulatory authority relies on cooperation in the industry. “The Federal Network Agency welcomes the extension of the cooperation between Telekom and Vodafone and their future expansion to fiber optic connections,” said a spokesman for the Federal Network Agency. “This shows that voluntary agreements between the market players are possible.” The competitors should now “negotiate intensively” for “contractual partnerships”.

Negotiate nicely Those involved can understand that as a wink with the fence post, even with disputed questions how to agree on the price increase for bitstream access to the telecommunications network. The Federal Network Agency “leaves the time window open and will therefore no longer make any regulatory decisions before Christmas that could end or impair such discussions and their success,” emphasized the spokesman.

The Association of Telecommunication and Value-Added Services (VATM) recently asked for the Federal Network Agency to bring movement into the deadlocked bitstream negotiations with a clear announcement. It remains to be seen whether the friendly encouragement from Bonn is enough. In any case, VATM sees in the copper network “with many cost elements considerable leeway to compensate for rising copper or civil engineering prices and to maintain stable prices in the long term” VATM but. “We want Telekom as an important partner in the expansion of fiber optics,” said VATM boss Jürgen Grützner. “On the way it will be of central importance that the investment conditions for all market participants have to be right and that future cooperation strategies of Telekom do not primarily serve to secure its own competitive advantage. Now Telekom has to prove that it is serious about the cooperation offer.”

(vbr)