Bridging the Digital Divide in Europe
Broadband access is widely available across Europe, however, there is still a digital divide in connectivity speed. While 70% of European households have a high-speed internet connection, in rural areas, this figure drops to just 37%.
The European Union’s Digital Decade Policy Program is dedicated to ensuring all citizens have access to high-speed broadband by 2030. Funding is available to service providers deploying to underserved and unserved markets, as well as those re-architecting existing networks for the next generation of bandwidth demand, as factors such as the rise in video streaming services and increase in working from home after the COVID-19 pandemic continue to increase network pressure.
National governments in the European Union also have their own high-speed broadband targets. In Germany, for example, the government is aiming for the ambitious goal of nationwide gigabit broadband service by 2025. The country has already reached 96% coverage of ‘fast broadband’ (>30 Mbps). However, in rural areas of Germany, coverage is just 85% – largely due to a lack of fiber connections.
Exploring the options
Before service providers pursue rural buildouts, they must determine the best network architecture to meet their goals and the best approach to building it. A specialist partner can be invaluable in helping define and implement these strategies.
Much of the focus of broadband deployment is on delivering last mile Fiber-To- FTTH/FTTB, but the ‘middle mile’ – the on-ramps connecting the provider edge to internet points of presence (PoPs) –– must also be prioritized. In large urban areas, these PoPs are nearby and relatively easy to access but rural providers must connect hundreds of gigabits – or even terabits – of data to locations that can be hundreds of kilometers away. This requires high performance optical transport solutions that provide high levels of flexibility and scalability.
Providers with existing backhaul infrastructure will likely need to upgrade it as they expand their access networks, and may want to consider alien wavelengths to do so. Alien wavelengths are the quickest, most cost-efficient way of adding bandwidth, while also allowing the provider to reclaim capacity on existing spans. Alien wavelengths from Ekinops provide instant capacity where you need it, over any line system, at the lowest possible cost and without impacting operations.
Providers moving into new areas may need to essentially start from scratch with a greenfield build, requiring a wide range of WDM equipment. They should look for vendors with a full line of equipment that supports specialty capabilities such as extended reach and bi-directional communications.
Seizing the opportunity
There is a clear opportunity for service providers looking to expand and upgrade their rural European networks. Working with a professional partner will be invaluable for service providers to choose the right backhaul solution, avoid hidden costs of implementing the wrong equipment and, ultimately, deliver successful projects.
Contact the Ekinops team to hear how we can provide the equipment, expertise and advice needed for service providers to accomplish rural deployments on time, within budget and with the highest level of service for users.