Shared goals – shared company: OpenNet and German consortium join forces in a joint venture

Three German fibre network companies are now part of OpenNet's German company, OpenNet GmbH, which is being converted into a joint venture. Last year, a group of German network operators announced that they would cooperate with OpenNet and open the fibre networks via OpenNet's platform. Following this, OpenNet established a German subsidiary, OpenNet GmbH, and opened its office in Neumünster. Now the German company is being transformed into a joint venture, where three of the German network operators will take over as owners of half of OpenNet GmbH.

There are several strategic advantages to entering into a joint venture, says CEO of OpenNet, Henrik Møller Nielsen:

"We believe that OpenNet GmbH will be even stronger when we combine our strengths in a business partnership. At the same time, it is a great advantage to have local partners who contribute with in-depth knowledge of the German telecommunications industry."

The German fibre network companies that now own 50% of OpenNet GmbH are: SWN Stadtwerke Neumünster, Stadtwerke Geesthacht GmbH and Breitbandnetz GmbH & Co. KG. Fabian Bühring, Area Manager at SWN Stadtwerke Neumünster, adds:
“We have a common goal – open fibre networks are the way forward in Germany. With Open Access network operators achieve better utilisation of their fibre networks while service providers can offer their services to a broad customer base on fair and equal terms. OpenNet has proven this concept in Denmark - one of Europe's leading fibre markets - that was exactly what we were looking for!”

Germany is ready to open fibre networks
Kristian Olaf Plet Freiesleben has overseen OpenNet's expansion into Germany and has been appointed Managing Director of OpenNet GmbH together with Lars Wiechmann, who – until now – was Head of Projects and Processes at SWN Stadtwerke Neumünster. Shared ownership, shared leadership.

OpenNet has participated in many trade fairs and panel debates, and Lars Wiechmann says that Open Access is in demand in the industry:

"The German telecommunications industry is ready to open up fibre networks and we invite network operators and service providers to work with OpenNet GmbH as a link. Just like in Denmark, OpenNet GmbH is based on the same principles of neutrality and standardization, ensuring equal conditions for everyone."

The three German co-owners will continue as collaborators of the platform, and Lars Wiechmann adds that the principles – which the contracts are built upon – ensures that Open Access applies equally to both existing and future collaborators of the platform.

There is more that unites us than separates us
The office in Germany is run by German employees in close cooperation with the Danish organisation. Therefore, there is a strong focus on creating a common OpenNet culture, says Kristian Olaf Plet Freiesleben:

"In addition to cross-cutting meetings, a few employees from out Danish office regularly visits Neumünster to work – and vice versa. There are only 280 km between us."

Towards the establishment of the joint venture, many practicalities and agreements had to fall into place, and it was inevitable that cultural differences did not appear.

"For example, in Germany we have some different administrative processes than in Denmark. But we believe that a strong community also makes room for differences," says Lars Wiechmann, and Henrik Møller Nielsen adds:

"There is clearly much more that unites us than divides us. And where we are different, we can learn from each other – that's the strength of a partnership."

Since the establishment of the German company, OpenNet's platform is now ready to handle collaborations between German network operators and service providers. The first collaboration is expected to be operational in the autumn of 2025