Telefónica Deutschland is expanding its fixed-line business with another fibre-optic partner. A long-term agreement with Deutsche Glasfaser gives the core brand O2 and its fixed-line products access to around three million additional FTTH households. This enhances the company’s fibre footprint by around 20% to a total of around 19 million households.
Going forward, Telefónica Deutschland will be able to market the fixed-line products of its core brand, O2, via Deutsche Glasfaser’s FTTH network. This is set to begin in the first half of 2027. The partnership with one of Germany’s largest fibre providers will expand availability, particularly in rural and suburban areas, where O2 so far often has been able to offer only DSL or cable products, or no fixed-line products at all.
“With Deutsche Glasfaser, we are opening millions of additional households to our fibre services and specifically strengthening our fixed-line business as one of our growth areas. At the same time, we are creating more choice for customers and generating additional demand for existing infrastructure. It is precisely this interplay of reach, competition and improved network utilisation that is driving the fibre market forward in Germany,” says Jörg Kablitz, Chief Partner & Wholesale Officer and member of the Executive Board of Telefónica Deutschland.
More competition on the fibre network
With O2, Deutsche Glasfaser gains a brand with a large sales organisation in the German telecoms market and a large base of mobile and fixed-line customers. The additional demand can increase utilisation and thus the profitability of existing and newly developed fibre infrastructure.
“The partnership with Telefónica sends a strong signal in favour of open access and marks an important milestone for genuine competition in the telecoms market. It speaks for itself that three out of four national providers now rely on our network. It impressively confirms the quality and appeal of our infrastructure. We are delighted with this success and look forward to further expanding our partnership together,” says Ruben Queimano, Chief Commercial Officer at the Deutsche Glasfaser Group.
O2 can market its tariffs at the same terms as Deutsche Glasfaser. O2 customers will be connected just as swiftly and will receive the same services regarding the operation and fault-resolution of their fibre lines. Even in new roll-out areas, O2 can already offer products in parallel with Deutsche Glasfaser and other providers during the pre-marketing and roll-out phase.
More choice for fibre-optic customers
For consumers, the partnership means more choice on the same infrastructure. In future, alongside Deutsche Glasfaser and other network users, they will also be able to choose O2 as a provider. In this way, the open-access model combines investment in new fibre networks with competition amongst providers.
Via Deutsche Glasfaser’s infrastructure, O2 customers can subscribe to fixed-line tariffs with speeds of up to 1,000 Mbit/s, including a flat-rate calling plan to German fixed-line and mobile networks. O2 mobile customers can add corresponding fixed-line products, for example as part of the O2 Plus bundles.
