Faster pace ahead
In the heart of Germany, Düsseldorf is gearing up for a digital revolution, thanks to Vodafone's ambitious plans to expand its broadband infrastructure. The city's Mayor has emphasised the significance of a robust and comprehensive broadband network for businesses, operations, and private households, with Vodafone identified as a key player in this endeavour.
Vodafone is making strides in Düsseldorf by upgrading urban infrastructure to support high-speed connectivity. This is part of their strategy to deploy 5G micro-sites, with over 100 advertising columns already converted into 5G-capable micro-sites using fiber optic backhaul. This initiative covers busy streets and public areas, with plans to continue or expand over the next 12 months.
While the exact residential neighbourhoods for new fiber optic rollout by Vodafone in the next 12 months are not yet explicitly detailed, the focus so far has been on installing 5G-capable columns embedded with Ericsson antennas that draw on fiber backhaul to deliver up to 500 Mbps speeds over a 400-meter radius. This rapid expansion of high-capacity coverage in dense urban centers is expected to enable gigabit speeds for 320,000 households and businesses in the city, making it the largest driver of broadband expansion in the region.
Vodafone's efforts are not limited to 5G micro-sites. The communications conglomerate is also active in new construction areas. Fiber optic expansion has already begun in four areas with a total of 900 housing units, and plans are in place to expand fiber optic networks in Lörick around Bonifatiusstraße, Flingern-Nord between Rübezahl and Rotkäppchenweg, and in Gerresheim between Deilbach and Lohbachweg.
Pre-marketing has already begun in some of these areas, and excavation work is ongoing in the northern and popular district of Wittlaer, where a new fiber optic network for 120 households is being created. More than 80% of residents in Wittlaer have already ordered a connection and are expected to receive it by summer.
In addition, Vodafone is relying on cooperation with the housing industry. By 2022, the communications conglomerate will provide around 5,000 housing units of the municipal housing company with gigabit-speed internet via FTTB (Fiber to the Building).
Alexander Saul, CEO of Keller and Business Customers, recently presented the status of Gigabit connectivity in Düsseldorf and outlined plans to provide fiber optic connections to another 12,000 households in the next 12 months. This digital infrastructure expansion is a joint task that the city approaches through partnerships with telecommunications companies.
In summary, Vodafone's expansion in Düsseldorf is set to bring gigabit-speed internet to thousands of households and businesses, making it a significant contributor to the city's digital future.
Technology plays a crucial role in Vodafone's expansion plan, as they are upgrading urban infrastructure to support high-speed connectivity, such as 5G micro-sites and fiber optic networks.
Vodafone's strategic deployment of 5G micro-sites using fiber optic backhaul aims to deliver up to 500 Mbps speeds over a 400-meter radius, benefiting many households and businesses in Düsseldorf with gigabit speeds.
