How PPC aspires to enter the fiber optic networks – In discussions with Nova-Wind

By Fotis Fotinos

Alexandros Paterakis, Deputy CEO of PPC, referred to the plan to expand the PPC fiber optic network, with a budget of 800 million euros, emphasizing that the company is in discussions for the lease of the network with telecommunications companies, such as Nova-Wind.

Specifically, in his speech at a conference yesterday, Mr. Paterakis commented that “PPC is dynamically entering the fiber optic market”, citing details of the investment plan.

“One of the new ventures that we are working on, studying it for 2 consecutive years, is the possibility to enter the field of telecommunications as a wholesale provider and what we call” fiber to the home “,” said Mr. Paterakis initially.

“It is a project that will cover about 3 million households in about 5 years from today. It is an investment that will cover the whole territory.

We will mainly start from the big cities and then we will expand to the periphery. The project is estimated at around 800 million euros, of which 530 million will be covered through loans and the rest from equity, “he added.

After clarifying that “the final service will not be provided by PPC, but the infrastructure”, he stressed that PPC is in advanced discussions with telecommunications companies, such as NOVA – Wind and, as soon as the pilot tests are completed, the distribution will begin. of the service.

Regarding the project, the Municipality of Peristeri was selected as the first municipality, in which PPC will pilot its fiber optic network, while 25 km of fiber optics have already “fallen”, covering about 5,000 households.

In fact, it is estimated that, from the end of June, these households will be able to access the service.

“Our pilot program is completed within the summer, covering 15,000 homes, while by the end of 2022 the entire municipality will be covered.

“Within the next month, we will have completed the elaboration of the plan to cover 10 municipalities and 450,000 households within the next 6-8 months”, stressed Mr. Paterakis.

For his part, at the same conference, Dimitris Papazafiropoulos, Technical Chief Operations Officer NOVA-WIND, referred in general to the investment plan of UNITED Group, which is the parent company of the two companies, emphasizing that a total investment of 1.3 has been announced. billion euros.

The United Group, as he stressed, will make investments in excess of 1.3 billion. over the next five years, focusing on priority areas such as fiber-optic network expansion, 5G development and pay-TV.