Nordhausen District Homeowner Depicts Disorderly Conclusion of Fiber Optic Enlargement Project
In the city of Nordhausen, Germany, a resident named Frank Diederich has expressed his feelings of abandonment and frustration with Telekom over the delayed and disorganised fiber optic installation at his home.
Despite Telekom being emphasised as the contract partner, Diederich has found himself constantly being referred to the executing companies. This lack of direct communication has led to confusion and a sense of being left in the dark, with Diederich receiving automated confirmation emails instead of updates about the installation.
The situation has been further exacerbated by poor communication and scheduling issues, construction-related disruptions, installation quality variability, and billing or contract misunderstandings, which are common issues reported in fiber optic rollouts by major providers like Telekom across Germany. These problems include delays in installation due to logistical or technical difficulties, damage or obstruction to driveways, sidewalks, or local streets during fiber cable laying, and issues with internal wiring or customer premises equipment when transitioning from old copper to fiber lines.
However, direct user complaints or reports for Nordhausen specifically involving Telekom's fiber projects were not found in the search. While these general fiber installation challenges may apply to Nordhausen, precise, localised insights might be necessary through consulting local forums, consumer watchdogs, or Nordhausen residents’ social media.
Diederich's case is not an isolated incident. He has been living on a construction site for a year due to the delayed installation, and the protective tube for his house was laid in February 2024, but the rest of the installation has not been successful to this day. The construction companies have other commitments as well, and the end to the work on the delayed renovation is not currently in sight.
The expansion in the Ellrich region is almost complete, and the city of Nordhausen has already supplied one third of its households with fiber optic cable. However, the renovation of a staircase in an unspecified location has been delayed by at least half a year due to corrective work on the fiber optic cable laying. Furthermore, cables were laid in public areas and green spaces, but the surfaces were not restored correctly for green growth.
In light of his experiences, Diederich advises anyone to thoroughly reconsider commissioning a fiber optic connection from Telekom. He describes the processes, agreements, and execution of work and appointments as disastrous.
Despite these challenges, coordination between the company laying the cable in the apartments and the administration or owners did not occur for the connections that have already been ordered in the apartment block. The last information given to Diederich was that the expansion will be completed by February 2026.
As the fiber optic rollout continues in Nordhausen, it is crucial for residents to stay informed and vigilant about the progress and potential issues that may arise during the installation process.
Despite Frank Diederich's frustrations with Telekom, he has been repeatedly directed towards the executing companies for communication, creating a sense of disconnect.
In an effort to keep informed about potential issues, Diederich advises other residents to stay updated on the progress of technology like gadgets reliant on the fiber optic network in Nordhausen.
