Vodafone makes peace with Telefónica to use its fiber network

The British teleco will be able to immediately access the Spanish company's network

   Telefónica and Vodafone have reached a commercial agreement for wholesale access to Telefonica's fiber optic network. Thanks to this signature, Vodafone "will be able to immediately access Telefonica's fiber not only in certain municipalities subject to the regulation, but also in others in which the Spanish company was freed from wholesale obligations of access to fiber" , the companies point out in a joint statement.

   Thanks to this agreement, Vodafone manages to 'de facto' reach 17 million households 'connected' by Telefónica's fiber optic network. With this agreement, the British teleco will be able to improve and extend its convergent packages and increase its market to offer ultra-fast broadband services and television services, the British company said in a joint statement with Telefónica.

The agreement, with a duration of five years, "highlights the synergies generated by Vodafone's access to Telefónica's network, which increases its degree of use, and therefore, the efficiency of deployment and optimization of investment. for both companies, "the companies explain.

The latest wholesale regulation of the broadband markets approved by the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) allows, among other aspects, the access of other operators to Telefónica's fiber optic network in those areas where it does not There is enough competition in this type of networks.

The new regulation requires Telefónica to have a wholesale offer of virtual access to its fiber optic network (local NEBA) for those areas declared as non-competitive, representing 65% of the population.

On the contrary, in the 66 Spanish municipalities that declared themselves as competitive, equivalent to 35% of the population, the CNMC considered that there was a sufficient level of competition, since in them there are at least three operators that simultaneously deploy networks of new generation (NGA).

"This agreement will also benefit consumers, who will have access to improved coverage and alternatives in new generation networks at the national level and, consequently, greater availability of services associated with the digital economy," explain.