In the interview with Süleyman Karaman, Management Deutsche Glasfaser Business

Deutsche Glasfaser Business is the fibre-optic specialist for business customers and municipal administrations. Based on future-proof fibre-optic direct connections all the way to the building, the company offers optimised internet services for companies of all sizes and municipal properties. The services range from providing fibre-optic connections and supplying internet and telephony offerings, site networking, cloud connections, intelligent value-added services in and from its own data centres, to connecting mobile phone masts. In addition, standardised pre-products for other network operators based on Ethernet technology are part of the portfolio. Data centres in Germany guarantee the highest security and data protection standards. Combined with individual support, this enables effective working in the digital age. Today, we speak with Süleyman Karaman about the expansion of fibre-optic infrastructure in this country, its importance for the German economy and take a look ahead at the future of fibre-optic connections and the associated opportunities.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Germany lags behind its European neighbours in many areas of digitalisation. The same is true for fibre-optic expansion. While this is now at 73 % in Sweden and even 69.7 % in Spain, we in the Federal Republic are simply not making progress and are only just reaching 4.7 %. What do you think is the reason for this?

Süleyman Karaman: It is true that in Germany the density of pure fibre-optic connections in businesses and households is still far too low. However, when looking at other figures, we can see that Germany is accelerating its expansion. For the period from September 2019 to September 2020, the FTTH Council Germany ranks Germany among the top three fastest-growing countries in Europe out of 39 countries in terms of absolute and percentage growth in FTTH and FTTB connections. It is important that we make rapid progress here, because it is not just about surfing speeds, but also about social and democratic participation, economic strength, quality of life and prosperity that fibre-optic supply brings. As a digital supplier to the regions, for almost ten years we have been driving the expansion of pure fibre-optic networks, especially where demand is greatest – away from the conurbations.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: In Germany, one gets the feeling that 5G takes priority over fibre-optic expansion. Can you confirm this?

Süleyman Karaman: No, we cannot confirm that. Both technologies cover different fields of application and complement each other. 5G depends on fibre-optic connections, because the mobile phone masts must be connected via fast lines in order to transport the large volumes of data in the so-called backhaul of the networks. Fibre-optic connections all the way to the home and to the business are undoubtedly the fastest, most reliable and most resilient technology for fully utilising the possibilities of digitalisation. Fibre-optic is becoming an increasingly indispensable infrastructure, especially for business customers.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Is your company seeking collaboration with other providers, as recently with 1&1 Versatel? What drives you in this regard?

Süleyman Karaman: Fibre-optic cable is the infrastructure that enables the digital transformation of businesses in the years to come. The technology secures the future viability of Germany as an economic location, especially as a large federal state. Companies that are often global market leaders and even more frequently the most important employer in a region have settled in the Wesermarsch, Siegerland and Palatinate, for example. Deutsche Glasfaser and 1&1 Versatel are two established network operators pursuing a shared goal: driving forward the digital transformation of the German economy in particular. We are pleased that this new cooperation will contribute to meaningful network expansion. This is how the digitalisation of our economy can be made efficient and resource-saving.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: As organisers of the dikomm - Zukunft digitale Kommune, we host a congress trade fair on the topic of digitalisation in the public sector and in cities and municipalities. Fibre-optic cable still does not seem to be a focus for many administrations. What kind of support would you like to see from the federal government in this regard?

Süleyman Karaman: In our on-site work, we have almost always had a different experience. The Deutsche Glasfaser Group is building the digital citizen network, and as a business customer brand, we are bringing fast internet connections to commercial areas. In doing so, we have encountered mayors and economic development officers as advocates of the technology in the vast majority of cases, and the cooperation agreements we conclude with municipalities help expand services for both business and private customers. The pandemic has clearly demonstrated the importance of fibre-optic connections for schools and for people’s ability to work from home.

What we would like to see from the federal government is for the removal of all the major and minor obstacles to rapid fibre-optic expansion to be placed at the very top of the agenda. First, we would like to see self-sustaining expansion actually prioritised effectively, because it is faster than subsidised expansion and also serves municipalities with the greatest actual demand first. Second, funding should clearly focus on the white areas, many of which are still waiting (and needing) to be connected. And third, progress in fibre-optic expansion depends crucially on approval procedures becoming significantly faster and more efficient. However, in our federal system, all levels are called upon to play their part alongside the federal government.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Fast internet connections are essential for many companies. Especially in the medical sector, nothing works without fibre-optic cable. What do you see as the most important areas of application for fibre-optic use and the associated business models?

Süleyman Karaman: All business models benefit from fiber-optic connectivity, even if it means that home workstations in hybrid work models are then optimally connected. The medical sector is a very good example of the importance of fiber optics. In Germany, we have hardly given any thought for decades to the work of laboratories operating in the background when we have blood taken by a doctor. Due to the corona tests, they suddenly came into the spotlight and suddenly needed powerful digital infrastructure to be able to deliver results quickly. Our customer Bioscentia Healthcare was able, among other things, thanks to its fast fiber-optic connection, to process up to 75,000 samples per day. In the regions away from metropolitan areas, which we focus on, a fiber-optic infrastructure often also enables medical consultations or therapy sessions via video. Due to demographic change and the shortage of doctors in rural areas, this is an increasingly important factor for patients, not just during COVID-19 times.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Cloud technology continues to gain ground. Many companies want to migrate core applications and data to the cloud. What other solutions are important and how do you support companies with these challenges?

Süleyman Karaman: A very important topic in connection with the cloud is security, because company-critical applications must also function from home, even beyond the pandemic. We offer our fiber-optic customers end-to-end security on the fiber-optic line and in the data center. An interesting solution for companies of all sizes is the vTK, a virtual telephone system that can provide voice services in parallel via the cloud. One of the biggest advantages is that the vTK grows with the company. There are always as many telephone connections available as needed. This is not possible with a classic telephone system.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: The current issue focuses on digital learning. Why is fiber so crucial in digital communication, for example in Work 4.0 such as in hybrid work models, but also in telecommunications and further education?

Süleyman Karaman: Because only fiber optics enables uninterrupted, high-bandwidth communication, which is particularly relevant for video content. Large amounts of data must be transmitted quickly so that online classes, lectures, meetings, and events can be experienced in real time and have no disadvantages compared to an in-person event in this respect.

Digitalization can thus also help solve other problems. If, for example, a university in Munich can offer its courses online in high quality, then as a student I no longer necessarily have to look for expensive living space in the Bavarian state capital to complete my degree there. The pandemic has also shown that more home office can reduce commuter traffic.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Finally, a look ahead: What developments do you see in the next 5-10 years in national digitalization, particularly regarding aspects like fiber optics, fast internet, and the associated opportunities?

Süleyman Karaman: The past decade has seen immense progress in digitalization, and this trend will continue as new applications emerge that provide added value for people. For rural regions in particular, we will see solutions to problems that are still acute today, such as in healthcare and education. This, in turn, requires the necessary high-performance infrastructure. By the end of 2025 alone, Deutsche Glasfaser will have connected a further three million households to the fiber-optic network. This will also enable companies to establish themselves outside major urban centers in the future.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Many thanks for this truly fascinating interview!