Deutsche Glasfaser taps Nokia to build broadband network in Germany

Nokia has won a major contract with Deutsche Glasfaser to build a highly innovative and modern country-wide fiber broadband network in Germany. Nokia will provide a full suite of fixed access and IP network products including its next-generation PON fiber solution, capable of supporting GPON, XGS-PON and 25G PON on the same fiber, along with its Broadband Network Gateways (BNG). Nokia is swapping out two competitors’ installed basis of IP Core, BNG and Edge Routers including related services.

Nokia leads the design and the validation of Deutsche Glasfaser’s new network architecture, customizes its IP domain controller (Network Service Platform) and the fixed access domain controller (Altiplano Access Controller). Nokia will also deploy services for the installation and the commissioning of Nokia’s systems.

The announcement supports Deutsche Glasfaser’s ambition to triple its installed base of 2 million ‘homes passed’ going forward. Driven by a 7 billion Euro investment from Deutsche Glasfaser owners EQT and Omers, the company is modernizing its network architecture and operations. With Nokia’s products, network design and services capabilities, Deutsche Glasfaser will build a highly automated and efficient future proof network that can effectively support its expansion and modernization goals.

Pascal Koster, Chief Operating Officer at Deutsche Glasfaser, said: “Nokia is an important strategic partner for us and provides future-proof and highly reliable network technology and services. 10 Gbps XGS-PON access technology will be deployed as standard across our network from April 2024 onwards in partnership with Nokia. The first XGS-PON customer connections are already live in the aera of Neuwied. The deployment program enables the introduction of symmetrical broadband services up to 10 Gbps for homes and business.

Nokia’s IPMPLS systems are 800G ready, their OLTs and Quillion chipset future proof our fiber network while their Altiplano and NSP controller further support our plans to ease and highly automate network operations across the entire region.”

Matthieu Bourguignon, Senior Vice-President and Head of Europe Business, Network Infrastructure at Nokia, added: “Nokia’s full suite of products and professional services will help Deutsche Glasfaser to design an optimized and automated network across different network domains. This includes the whole scope of work from design, validation and integration, swap services, site surveys, installation, commissioning and maintenance. Deutsche Glasfaser has been a customer of our FTTH access equipment since 2017, so this is a valuable seal of approval to extend our partnership to the IP domain.”