ᐅ Experiences with Customized Telecom Broadband Connections?

Hello everyone!

Has anyone here had experience with or requested a quote for an individual FTTH connection?
I know it can easily be a five-figure amount, but I would still appreciate it if someone has done this before or asked for a quote and could share some insights. Our potential new neighborhood is unfortunately stuck in the digital Stone Age. The available “up to x Mbps” DSL connections from the only provider there are probably not sufficient for our needs. So we are looking for the "FTTH, no matter the cost" connection. 😉

For streaming and video calls, we especially need sufficient upload speeds. Are there now alternatives that offer decent bandwidth (including upload) without underground cables, and where latency is still acceptable (let’s say max. 30-40ms)?
We have considered Starlink, but it seems it’s not quite mature yet, or Magenta Speedbox XL? According to the coverage map, Telekom at least offers 5G in the region. What bandwidth you can ultimately expect there, though, I’m not sure.

Best regards

I’ll also join in here 😉

- Starlink: Latencies are too high
- Telekom hybrid connection, meaning combined DSL and 5G: Works quite well for a colleague with 16Mbps DSL combined with Telekom’s Pro router. Three-person household, with one person working full-time from home and the daughter doing remote schooling. After some initial searching for a good spot in the house, it works fine.
- TV cable installation: My brother-in-law arranged this privately, along with two other households on his street (all new builds). Costs were around 14,000 euros for about 150 meters (490 feet) of cable and three house connections. This was back in 2014, but I would still check it out.
- Telekom FTTH (fiber to the home): This would be my preferred option as well, but it strongly depends on the commitment of the local building district authority (which you only find out after ordering your connection) and local conditions. Personally, I would already commission a feasibility study. This cost about 900 euros four years ago. As a result, you receive hopefully a binding offer; at least that was the case four years ago.

kati1337 schrieb:

Has anyone here had experience with or requested a quote for an individual FTTH connection?

You need to check directly with the telecom provider. It won’t help much if the nearest distribution point is 2,000m (6,562 feet) away, as the cost can become very high.
A few years ago, I read that there may be a base fee of around €15,000 plus additional charges if you’re outside of a designated FTTH area, or around €6,000 plus €100 per meter of cable installation (even more if paved roads are involved).

In the targeted Saar-Pfalz district, Deutsche Glasfaser is partially rolling out FTTH. Check which towns are covered exactly. However, this may limit your property search. Alternatively, ask how much it would cost just to have a line installed for you.

kati1337 schrieb:

Has anyone here had experience with or requested a quote for an individual FTTH connection?
I know it easily costs five figures, but I would still appreciate it if someone has done it before.

There was (or is?) an offer this year in this (major city) to have FTTH installed for free, even without signing a contract with a provider. The process was handled through the telecom company.
So, check with your local telecom provider to see if this offer is still available in your area (otherwise search with the national regulatory authority). Best to inquire before the end of this year!

We are waiting for this connection to be installed here, although we manage quite well with the existing ADSL.

Fiber optic is certainly the more future-proof connection and is expected to become the standard in just a few years.
Compared to *DSL, it also has the advantage of electrical isolation.
This can be beneficial if there is a lightning strike nearby, like we experienced about a year ago.
Several components here were damaged even though it wasn’t a direct hit (due to grounding currents!).

Benutzer200 schrieb:
You can or should check directly with the telecom provider. It won’t help you much if the nearest distribution point is 2,000m (6,560 ft) away and then the costs reach six figures. A few years ago, I read something about €15,000 plus additional costs if you are outside a designated FTTH area, or €6,000 plus €100 per meter of cable installation (if the streets are paved, it gets even more expensive).

Thank you, yes, I know it is very individual. Still, your assessment helps me a lot. I just wanted to get a rough idea of what one might expect to pay.