SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Dec. 7, 2024 – Deutsche Telekom and Allgäuer Überlandwerk (AÜW) have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the rollout of fiber optic internet in the Allgäu region of Germany. The collaboration will kick off with a project in Weitnau, aiming to connect approximately 2,900 homes and businesses to a high-speed fiber optic network by 2030.
Faster Internet, More Choices for Weitnau
This partnership promises significant benefits for residents and businesses in Weitnau. "A turbo-fast internet connection is a benefit for the citizens of the Weitnau market community and a relevant locational factor for our businesses," said Florian Schmid, Mayor of Weitnau. "With the agreement between Telekom and AÜW, a wide selection of fiber optic offers will be available in my community."
The collaboration will not only bring faster internet speeds but also increase the availability of service providers. Telekom will join M-net in providing active network operation, ensuring high network utilization and offering customers a wider range of choices.
A Win-Win Situation for All
This partnership represents a strategic alliance that leverages the strengths of both companies. "Our expansion rests on three pillars: our own expansion, funding projects and cooperation," explained Jürgen Lück, Head of Broadband at Deutsche Telekom. "The agreement with Allgäuer Überlandwerk is a good example of how the strengths of two partners can complement each other. The heart of digitization beats locally. We benefit from AÜW's local expertise during expansion. And in return, we bring utilization and variety of offers to the network in the Weitnau market."
AÜW also sees this collaboration as a major advantage for their customers and the region. "The cooperation with Telekom actually creates a win-win-win-win-win situation," said Michael Lucke, Managing Director of AÜW. "Above all, our customers and the Weitnau market benefit, but we also create advantages for Telekom, AÜW and our partner M-net through synergies. In Weitnau, we are further fulfilling our strategic AÜW corporate goal as a 'full-service provider in the Allgäu.'"
Phased Rollout, Minimal Disruption
The rollout of fiber optic connections in Weitnau will be conducted in phases, carefully synchronized with other AÜW infrastructure projects to minimize disruption to residents. All households in the expansion area will be individually informed about the project timeline and connection process.
About Deutsche Telekom and AÜW
Deutsche Telekom is one of the world's leading integrated telecommunications companies, with a strong presence in Germany and across Europe. AÜW is the largest regional electricity provider in the Allgäu region, with over 100 years of experience serving approximately 94,000 private and business customers.
A Collaborative Approach to Digital Expansion
The partnership between Deutsche Telekom and AÜW exemplifies a collaborative approach to expanding digital infrastructure, bringing high-speed internet access to more communities. By combining their expertise and resources, these companies are working together to bridge the digital divide and empower residents and businesses in the Allgäu region with the benefits of modern connectivity.