OREANDA-NEWS. Vodafone Germany ("Vodafone") today announced a next-generation network access agreement with Deutsche Telekom ("DT") which will allow Vodafone to offer high-speed fixed-line broadband and internet protocol-based TV ("IPTV") services across Germany.

Vodafone will initially use DT's VDSL network under a bespoke "Layer 3" (IP-based) bitstream agreement. This will allow Vodafone to offer its customers connection speeds of up to 50 Mbps (rising to 100 Mbps once DT has deployed vectoring technology) as well as Vodafone’s own on-demand and broadcast IPTV services. The two companies have also agreed that a new, more advanced "Layer 2" (ethernet-based) bitstream product will be made available by DT to Vodafone from 2016, which will allow an even greater level of differentiation and control over the design and delivery of the services that Vodafone offers to consumers and enterprise customers.

The agreement, which is subject to approval by the Federal Network Agency, marks a significant further expansion of Vodafone’s strategy to offer unified communications services in European enterprise and consumer markets. It follows announcements including an agreement with Orange in Spain to build a new fibre to the home network, announced in March 2013, and the acquisition of Cable & Wireless Worldwide in the UK, completed in July 2012.

Vodafone Group Chief Executive for Northern and Central Europe, Philipp Humm, said: "Our agreement with Deutsche Telekom will greatly enhance our ability to offer our German customers a range of competitive, high-speed broadband and TV services, in addition to our industry-leading mobile services, in line with our broader Europe-wide strategy."