Tele Columbus expands reach in Berlin with Gesobau deal

German cable operator Tele Columbus, which operates under the PŸUR brand, has extended its reach in the Berlin triple-play market by agreeing an extension to its deal with state-owned housing association Gesobau.

As part of a public procurement process for triple-play services, Tele Columbus will supply another 25,000 households with TV, internet and phone services under the PŸUR brand from November this year.

The agreement provides for a full FTTH connection to Gesobau housing. Tele Columbus said the agreement helped cement its position as the leading fibre provider in the German capital.

The operator will begin by supplying 1Gbps capable access, HD television and phone connections to homes in the Bereich Märkisches Viertel (Reinickendorf) und Schillerhöhe (Mitte) districts from November 1.

These homes will subsequently be upgraded gradually to full fibre connections.

Over time, existing Gesobau homes served by Tele Columbus will also be upgraded to fibre, while all new construction projects will include FTTH from Tele Columbus.

Tele Columbus is providing connectivity to Gesobau homes under an open access model, enabling other providers such as O2 and 1&1 to offer services on a wholesale basis.

Daniel Ritz, CEO of Tele Columbus, said: “By expanding our proven cooperation with Gesobau, we are strengthening our position in Berlin as a leading fibre optic provider and the first point of contact for the housing industry when it comes to the expansion of the most modern fibre optic infrastructure.”

Rüdiger Schmidt, chief sales officer housing industry and infrastructure at Tele Columbus, said: “We are highly motivated about our extended partnership with Gesobau and the upcoming tasks. Through our agreement, we ensure that a television and internet infrastructure with the highest performance is available for every resident in every apartment. The decision to consistently expand fibre optics will pay off for everyone involved.”

Christian Wilkens, CEO of Gesobau, said: “A future-proof digital basic supply is increasingly a decisive criterion for attractive living space. With the expansion of the full fibre optic supply in our portfolio, we are supporting digital communication and promoting digital living in times of more flexible working models and increasing media use. In this way, we create real added value for our tenants.”