The FTTH Council Europe said that deploying FTTH throughout the EU (100% homes passed, 50% connected) will cost EUR 156 billion, though the reuse of existing infrastructure could bring the figure lower. The model accounts for the already existing fibre coverage and connections (30% homes passed, 10% connected). The council developed the model as input to the ongoing legislative debate on the proposal for a European Electronic Communications Code.
“We believe that a transparent and realistic discussion is needed so that the co-legislators, end-users and investors are aware of the real costs of creating a Gigabit Society,” the council said, adding that it believed FTTH is realistically achievable thoughout the EU. The council backed its belief by highlighting the fact that Sweden, Spain and Portugal have FTTH coverage that is over 80 percent.
Both the EIB and Analysis Mason put the cost of a full FTTH network at EUR 220-250 billion, with the number falling to EUR 154 billion with infrastructure reuse. The council model was developed by COMSOF who are network designers and cost modelling experts.
The study will be launched and discussed at the FTTH Conference in Marseille, France, on 14-16 February.
