VolkerWessels Telecom Awards Prysmian Group a multi-city deal to extend Reggefiber networks in 2012

Prysmian Group today announces the signing of a new FTTH deployment contract with VolkerWessels Telecom, the telecoms division of Dutch construction company VolkerWessels. The contract will be executed by Draka which earlier this year became part of the Prysmian Group.

In a first Dutch multi-city agreement of its kind, Draka becomes the sole partner of VolkerWessels Telecom for a series of FTTH projects that will bring next generation broadband closer to an additional 48.000 homes in 5 townships throughout the Netherlands and a possible extension to 63.000 households. Construction will begin in phased stages in January and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012. These latest regional networks are an expansion of the Reggefiber nationwide fibre network which currently covers 110 municipalities in the Netherlands.

“ We’re pleased to appoint Draka as our trusted partner for this extensive FTTH project,” said Arjan ten Hove, Director VolkerWessels Telecom FTTH. ”Draka and VolkerWessels have established a close working relationship based upon past successes. We will build upon this with this first multi-city arrangement that allows us to work closely on joint innovations for these townships and communities.”

Under the recently signed agreement, Draka will be responsible for the entire materials requirement of VolkerWessels Telecom FTTH projects over the coming year. Draka will provide materials from an extensive portfolio for passive infrastructure deployment to townships and communities throughout a total of 5 regions in the Centre and North East of the country.

“Providing quality solutions which control CAPEX and OPEX of passive network installations meets our network Partner demands for lower Total Cost of Ownership” says Mischa Vos, Commercial Director, Benelux, Prysmian Group, Telecom Solutions. “For complex FTTH access network roll-outs, flexibility and close partnerships with Customers are key to successful innovation and installations.”

Draka estimates that the project requirements will include over 1.100 km of fibre cable and 6.200 km of direct buried fibre access cable, together with the ducts, micro-tubes, ODF drawers and cabinets required to complete the installation. This offers a protective, convenient solution to bring the retracted fibre over the last section from the trench to customer homes when they agree to be connected.