Stadtwerke Gießen and goetel GmbH are pooling their capacities. In doing so, they are advancing two things: the energy transition and the development of the region with high-performance fibre optic cables.
As a driver of the local energy transition, Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) is constantly modernising its supply grids. Among other things, this involves upgrading many different systems and exchanging data quickly and securely. In other words, to network them with each other. Consequently, SWG has been laying fibre optic cables and empty conduits for several years now, into which the necessary fibre optic cables can be inserted at a later date. The company goetel GmbH, which has a branch in Reiskirchen, is also involved in the construction of such high-speed data lines. Its aim is to provide private households and companies with fast access to the Internet with fibre optics right into their homes. In doing so, goetel is taking a similar approach to SWG and laying empty conduits in the local neighbourhoods.
In order to be able to operate more efficiently in future, the two companies are now pooling their capacities. In other words, they are renting out their empty conduits or fibre optic cables to each other. "It is the quickest and cheapest solution for all parties involved to use infrastructure that is already available instead of laying new ones," says Oliver Reitz, authorised signatory at goetel in Reiskirchen, explaining the cooperation.
The contract will of course also have an impact on future projects. "Whenever there are plans to do so, we will immediately consult with our new partners and lay more empty conduits or fibre optic cables if there is nothing important to prevent us from doing so," announces Matthias Funk, Technical Director at SWG. This may be a little more expensive, but it is a sensible investment in the future. Thanks to the co-operation, the expected benefits far outweigh the minimal additional costs.
The cooperation agreement is valid until at least the end of 2030, but there is a good chance that the two companies will continue to work together beyond that. "We have much more in common than the infrastructure we provide each other," explains Matthias Funk at the signing of the agreement. In fact, both companies are rooted in the region and want to drive it forward. In addition to energy from SWG, this also includes ultra-fast and reliable data connections. The company goetel is committed to providing these in southern Lower Saxony, northern and central Hesse. And not only in the larger cities, but also in more rural communities.