Gigabit for everyone: Western Pomerania-Rügen celebrates fiber optic expansion!

Gigabit for everyone: Western Pomerania-Rügen celebrates fiber optic expansion!

A major chapter in digital infrastructure history has been completed in the Vorpommern-Rügen district: after more than seven years of intensive construction, the comprehensive expansion project of the fiber optic network was successfully completed. Almost 60,000 households and businesses now benefit from a lightning-fast Internet connection with speeds of up to 1,000 Mbit/s. How NDR reports, the project spans 56 communities, including 80 schools, which are now also reaping the benefits of high-speed internet.

As part of this initiative, Telekom has laid more than 8,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable and set up almost 1,400 new distributors. With a total budget of almost 127 million euros, which was co-financed by the federal, state and district governments, this project is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. District Administrator Stefan Kerth emphasizes that the expansion not only significantly improves internet speeds, but also creates a location advantage for citizens and local companies. “This is where digital progress becomes tangible,” says Kerth.

The advantages of fiber optic expansion

What does this mean for the residents? Well, the good news doesn't stop! With over 85 percent of citizens now having access to at least gigabit speeds, the accessibility of online services is also becoming noticeably better. This is particularly important for the 1,800 local companies, which can now run their businesses more efficiently. The focus was also on the so-called “white spots”, regions that were previously served with less than 30 Mbit/s. This outdated technology is now a thing of the past.

Over 70 percent of the affected households have already decided on a house connection. Residents are not forced to sign a contract with Telekom, but can freely choose their provider. This creates competition and ensures fair prices - and of course that is always an advantage when it comes to fast internet.

A look into the future

But that's not all: two new projects are already being planned, which will provide an additional funding volume of 18 million euros. These new initiatives target the so-called “light gray spots,” regions that have speeds between 30 and 100 Mbps. Connections are planned for around 4,500 more households in order to further close the digital divide and improve access to fast internet for everyone Northern Courier reported.

In the digital world, access to fast internet is a real elixir of life. It is therefore pleasing to see that Vorpommern-Rügen has not only caught up with the digital future with its new fiber optic network, but can also set a good example for other regions. We can only hope that residents make full use of the new opportunities and benefit from the fruits of this digital investment.