Vodafone expands broadband services in Germany

Vodafone is to offer high-speed fixed-line broadband and internet TV services in Germany through a new collaboration with German telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom (DT).

The two parties signed a next-generation network access agreement which will see Vodafone use DT's very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (or VDSL) network, allowing it to offer customers connection speeds of up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps), as well as on-demand and broadcast internet protocol-based TV (IPTV) services.

The broadband speed will rise to 100Mbps once DT has deployed so-called "vectoring technology".

The partnership between the two telecom firms is still subject to clearance by the Federal Network Agency, but Vodafone says it "marks a significant further expansion of Vodafone's strategy to offer unified communications services in European enterprise and consumer markets".

"Our agreement with DT will greatly enhance our ability to offer our German customers a range of competitive, high-speed broadband and TV services, in addition to our industry-leading mobile services, in line with our broader Europe-wide strategy," said Philipp Humm, the Chief Executive for Vodafone's Northern and Central Europe divisions.