Telecom network operator Vodafone today announced that the company is making substantial investment in the 1 gigabit broadband network across Europe.

Vodafone is following a multi-pronged strategy. First, it is investing in FTTH, wherever possible. In countries, where FTTH investment is not viable, Vodafone is partnering with existing FTTH network players.

“We have demonstrated that we make investments in FTTH when conditions allow us, working together with other forward-looking companies to build the ultrafast digital infrastructure that Europe needs,” said Vodafone Group Public Policy Director Markus Reinisch.

Vodafone Ireland will roll out fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in small towns with upwards of 4,000 houses across Ireland by the end of 2018.

The high-speed broadband from Vodafone Ireland will benefit 500,000 homes and businesses in small towns including Carrigaline in Country Cork, among the first of 51 Irish towns. Ireland is the first country in Europe to utilize electricity infrastructure to deploy fiber directly to the premises, said Vodafone.

At present, less than 50 percent of all fixed broadband subscriptions in Ireland provide speeds of 30 megabits or more.

Vodafone has made an investment of €125 million in its FTTH network in Portugal, offering speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second to 2.75 million homes and businesses by the end of 2016. Vodafone has connected 2.2 million homes and businesses with fiber networks in Portugal.

Vodafone is also setting up a gigabit FTTH network in Spain serving more than two million homes and businesses through a co-investment agreement with Orange.

Vodafone is in talks with Italian electricity company Enel to utilize its national FTTH network across Italy.

Baburajan K
[email protected]