Fiber optic expansion in Bremen: Annoyance about construction sites and quality defects!

Fiber optic expansion in Bremen: Annoyance about construction sites and quality defects!

Since its initiative, the fiber optic expansion in Bremen has caused a lot of excitement and dissatisfaction among residents. Although the project began in June 2023 with an ambitious target of 400 kilometers, the various construction sites have proven to be a real nuisance. How Weser courier Reportedly, complaints about construction sites, pavement slabs and general passability are commonplace in the affected districts. Many residents feel that their daily mobility is severely restricted due to the constant diversions and absurd circumstances.

In Blumenthal in particular, there was recently an incident that heated up tempers: in the middle of construction work, work was carried out without the necessary permits. This led to heated discussions and ambiguities between the police and the Department of Roads and Transport. Oliver Fröhlich, head of the Blumenthal district administration, is now planning talks with the affected network provider in order to address the concerns of residents. Even if the company assures that the surfaces will be restored after the work, skepticism among citizens remains high.

Trouble in Horn and dubious construction sites

It's not just in Blumenthal that nerves are on fire. Residents in Bremen-Horn also had to accept a setback: cables were laid in Vorkampsweg at the beginning of May, only for the street to have to be opened up again shortly afterwards. The inconvenience for the residents is considerable, as described by resident Ulrike Hartmann, for example, who complains about access problems to her property. In fact, the Bremen economic authority sees the numerous construction works as an inadequate approach on the part of the providers, which Thorsten Schmitt from Buten and inland supported, which helps the city avoid unnecessary reopenings.

The Telecommunications Act allows every licensed company to lay its own networks, which leads to these unpleasant multiple openings. However, city staff are working to ensure better coordination between providers. State Councilor Kai Stührenberg points out that responsible planning of the expansion work is crucial.

Progress and goals of fiber optic expansion

However, in the context of these challenges, the question of the progress of the entire fiber optic project remains central. The expansion is scheduled to be completed by 2030 and currently has a coverage of around 60 percent, which puts Bremen in fourth place in a nationwide comparison. This aspect is taken into account by Federal Government which sees the comprehensive expansion as an overriding public interest. An acceleration law is intended to further accelerate the process in order to open up neglected areas in a timely manner.

The trend shows that over 35 percent of households could already be covered by fiber optics by mid-2024, which corresponds to an increase of 1.8 million households per six months. Despite these positive figures, the dissatisfaction of the residents remains understandable, as many of their everyday lives are massively restricted by the construction sites.

In this context, it becomes clear that the coordination between the various service providers and the city urgently needs to be improved in order not to continue to burden citizens. Where is the great progress when we talk about daily life? Time will tell whether the expansion actually progresses as smoothly as originally planned. It is now important for citizens to remain patient and hold out hope for a fast, trouble-free internet.