FTTH infrastructure construction follows in areas of Attica, Evia, Corinthia, Messinia, Heraklion and Chania
OTE Group has launched the implementation of the "Ultra-Fast Broadband Infrastructure" project, which will bring ultra-high Internet speeds of up to 1Gbps to over 350,000 households and businesses in semi-urban and rural areas of the country. The first Fiber to the Home cabin under UFBB has already been installed in Drama, while by the end of 2024, FTTH construction will be completed in areas of Attica, Evia, Corinthia, Messinia, Heraklion and Chania. Under the partnership agreement with the Ministry of Digital Governance, the commercial roll-out of the network will start with the completion of 15% of the project.
This is another major investment by OTE in the development of the country's network infrastructure, worth €375 million, of which €130 million will be covered by the European Union's Structural and investment funds under the NSRF.
"W
ith its investments and major technology projects throughout Greece, OTE Group is creating the infrastructure for the digital modernization of the country. We have already installed the first FTTH cabin under the UFBB. We are proud to co-invest with the State in this very important PPP, which aims to bring fiber to areas outside major urban centers and contribute to digital inclusion. We continue to move forward dynamically, actively demonstrating our expertise and our ability to deliver large and complex projects for the benefit of Greek citizens." said OTE Group’s Chief Officer Strategy, Transformation & Wholesale Officer, Mr. Ioannis Konstantinidis.
In total, OTE Group, through its wholly owned subsidiary "UltrafastOTE", will deploy FTTH network in 3 of the 7 project areas (Lots 1, 3, 7). In detail:
- Lot 1: 9 regional units (Rodopi, Drama, Evros, Xanthi, Zakynthos, Ilia, Arcadia, Corinthia, Messinia).
- Lot 3: 13 regional units (Evia, Syros, Andros, Andros, Thira, Kea - Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Tinos, Heraklion, Rethymnon, Chania).
- Lot 7: 9 regional units (Boeotia, Fthiotida, Eastern Attica, Western Attica, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kos, Rhodes, Lasithi).
UFBB: a landmark project for the digital upgrading of the country
Ultra-Fast Broadband is the largest telecommunications infrastructure project tendered by the Greek State and one of the largest Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in Europe. It was designed and is being implemented by the Ministry of Digital Governance, the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Post and the special project management unit of the Digital Transformation Program. The implementation of the project is expected to contribute to the support and development of local businesses, to the creation of new jobs and to support deurbanization by reducing the digital divide between urban and semi-urban areas.
In total, Ultra-Fast Broadband will benefit over 830,000 households and businesses (over 18% of the country's total) and 10,000 public buildings (schools, health centers, etc.) in areas that were not included in the private investment planning.
The Ultra-Fast Broadband Infrastructure project has a budget of €743 million (€921 million including VAT), of which €250 million is co-financed public expenditure, covered by the European Union's Structural and Investment Funds under the NSRF, and the rest will be covered by private funds. The construction period, as defined by the project's tender document, will last 3 years, while the duration of the concession (service period), before the infrastructure is transferred to the public sector, is 23 years.
The project is part of the overall plan of the Ministry of Digital Governance and the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Post to substantially upgrade connectivity in the country, as reflected in the updated National Broadband Plan.
The largest investor in state-of-the-art infrastructure in Greece
OTE Group is Greece’s largest investor in new technologies and infrastructure, having implemented more than 60% of the sector’s investments. Over the past decade, the Group has invested a total of €5 billion in the modernization and upgrading of infrastructure. By significantly increasing its investments to more than €3 billion by 2027, OTE Group will bring the Fiber to the Home infrastructure to 3 million households and businesses, i.e. 2/3 of the country by 2027.