Telekom Austria Outlines $2.1 Billion in Network Upgrades

Published on: 1st Jan 1970: 1:33am

The Telekom Austria Group has announced that over the next 4 years, it will invest a total of EUR 1.5 billion (US$2.1 billion) in the Austrian telecommunications infrastructure. Of the spend, EUR 1 billion will go on the landline network, with EUR500 million being spent on the mobile network.

Hannes Ametsreiter, Telekom Austria Group's CEO, said at today's press conference in Vienna: "Next Generation Networks will provide the technological infrastructure basis for the 21st century. By modernizing Austria's business and technology location, we are guaranteeing the further sustainable development of our information society. Against the backdrop of a very challenging economic landscape, we are driving growth and stimulating the economy with our investments, making a significant contribution in the current recession."

According to the Austrian Economic Research Institute (WIFO) investments in telecommunications infrastructure totaling EUR 100 million creates up to 1,300 new jobs.

In the initial development phase of the Next Generation Networks, Austria's first "Fiber Cities" will be developed as pilot projects, providing high-speed glass fiber broadband access with transmission rates of up to 1 gbps to over 150,000 private households as well as hotels and restaurants nationwide. In the glass fiber test markets of Klagenfurt and the 15th and 19th Vienna districts, preparation work for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) are currently underway, which will allow fast broadband access to the customers' living rooms of up to 100 mbps by 2010 and, in a further development phase, of up to 1 gbps. The test market Villach will become Austria's first "Fiber City" in September 2009 based on the deployment of fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC), which allows transmission speeds of up to 30 mbps in all of the households of the city and provides the basis for fastest download rates as well as HD TV channels along with a new breed of 3D TV programs.

In addition to the "Fiber Cities", 750,000 private households as well as hotels and restaurants in rural areas will be provided with high-speed broadband access, offering transmission rates of up to 30 mbps, which, among other things, will enable innovative services in the areas of e-health and e-education.

 

Tags: [telekom austria]  [telekom]  [vienna]  [3d]  [Austria]