The Greek incumbent OTE is to invest over €3 billion on network infrastructure until 2027.
By doing so, it will bring FTTH to 3 million households and businesses, covering almost two-thirds of Greece’s lines with the technology. At present, OTE has almost 560,000 FTTH lines.
Commenting on the plans, Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “Deutsche Telekom board’s decision constitutes a vote of confidence in the country. It is a vote of confidence in your excellent local team and OTE Group. I also believe that it is a vote of confidence in our policies that boost digitalisation at a much faster pace, so that we are pioneers and not laggards on a European level. We have discussed many times the opportunities that Greece offers as a country that can be a leader in digital transformation.
“After the pandemic, many people have concluded that Greece is a great place to work from. To make Greece even more attractive, we need good connectivity, with the biggest possible population coverage, at the best possible prices, for us to be competitive in that sector. I think that your decision truly helps us towards that direction”.
During a meeting with the PM, Deutsche Telekom Group CEO, Tim Höttges said: “Deutsche Telekom’s investment in Greece is of strategic importance. Especially over the past years, the country has made significant progress in all sectors, proving that it belongs among Europe’s front-runners. Through our strategic plan to accelerate FTTH rollout, we firmly support the vision for the country’s digital transformation and pass a vote of confidence in its growth potential”.
Deutsche Telekom board member Europe Dominique Leroy added: “By investing in FTTH, we invest in Greece’s and Europe’s future. State-of-the-art networks are a prerequisite for businesses to grow, for attracting investments, creating new jobs and radically changing everyday life. FTTH is indispensable for every country that aims for digital growth and increased competitiveness on an international level. With a game-changing initiative, we realise the biggest investment in network infrastructure of the last decades in Greece empowering the country for the digital era”.
Michael Tsamaz, chairman & CEO of OTE Group, said: “The OTE Group builds Greece’s digital future. We respond to the actual needs of the State, the society and the market, by deploying today the network that will foster growth for the next decades and by upgrading free of charge our customers’ fixed speeds.
“The rapid development of our FTTH network is a big challenge, a complex project of enormous importance for the country. We are not intimidated by this great responsibility. If there is one company that can carry this project through, it’s the OTE Group and its people”.
