Deutsche Telekom has received an initial OK from Germany’s telecoms regulator for its plan to extend high-speed broadband coverage by adding vectoring technology to its copper-based VDSL network.
In a draft decision, the Bundesnetzagentur approved the plan, but applied certain conditions with regard to opening up the network to rival operators.
Specifically, Deutsche Telekom will be required to offer a Virtual Unbundled Local Access (VULA) product to competitors in areas where alternative networks are not available, the regulator ruled.
"Our proposal for future subscriber line access conditions represents a fair compromise in this highly controversial debate on the introduction of vectoring technology," Bundesnetzagentur president Jochen Homann said, in a statement.
Wholesale VULA access will also serve as a springboard for the incumbent’s competitors to roll out their own broadband offerings, Homann said.
In February Deutsche Telekom detailed its plan to provide high-speed Internet – up to 100 Mbps in the downlink – to an additional 5.9 million households using vectoring technology, enabling it to reach 80% of the population by 2018.
The move attracted criticism from rivals, since applying vectoring techniques to a copper network makes it difficult for rivals to gain access to the last mile. Thus Deutsche Telekom was required to apply to the regulator for permission.
