Gelsen-Net

What Gelsen-Net does

GELSEN-NET Kommunikationsgesellschaft mbH is a regional telecommunications provider and IT system house founded in 1983 and headquartered in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The company builds and operates its own fiber optic (Glasfaser) network spanning over 1,000 kilometers across eight North Rhine-Westphalia cities (Bottrop, Castrop-Rauxel, Gelsenkirchen, Gladbeck, Herten, Marl, Oberhausen, and Recklinghausen), using FTTH (Fiber to the Home) technology delivering speeds up to 1 Gbit/s. It serves over 40,000 customers, including more than 2,000 companies, across three primary segments: private/residential customers, business customers, and the housing industry (Wohnungswirtschaft). The company runs its own data center and manages infrastructure including LoRaWAN, WiFi, NB-IoT, and 5G campus solutions, and participates in the Ruhr-CIX internet exchange as part of the Ruhr-Backbone cooperation network.

Revenue is generated through recurring subscription services (residential internet, telephony, and TV bundled over fiber), managed IT services for business customers (network connectivity, cloud/storage via OPEN GELSEN-CLOUD, IT security, DDoS protection, and the BSI-recommended CyberRisikoCheck), fiber connection services for housing companies, and an open-access wholesale model that lets other telecommunications providers purchase capacity on its fiber infrastructure. Go-to-market combines direct sales (customer office in Gelsenkirchen, customer portal, online shop, telephone consultation, enterprise field sales) with channel partnerships, and marketing through digital channels, PR, and the long-running Make-IT event series. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, with internet tiers offered at 100, 300, 600, and 1,000 Mbit/s.

The company is a public-private entity jointly owned by GELSENWASSER AG (51%) and Stadtwerke Gelsenkirchen GmbH (49%, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of the City of Gelsenkirchen). It employs more than 130 people plus 15 apprentices, is led by managing directors Thomas Dettenberg (since 2004, spokesperson), Carsten Wick (since 2018), and Julia Kaufmann, and is overseen by a 10-member supervisory board chaired by Dr. Agnes Janda. It was recognized as "Arbeitgeber der Zukunft" (Employer of the Future) in 2024 by the Deutsches Innovationsinstitut.

Name

Gelsen-Net

Legal name

GELSEN-NET Kommunikationsgesellschaft mbH

Website

https://gelsen-net.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Gelsen-Net is a regional German telecommunications provider and IT system house operating a 1,000+ km fiber optic network across eight North Rhine-Westphalia cities, serving over 40,000 residential, business, and housing-industry customers with internet, telephony, TV, cloud, and IT security services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Telecommunications Services

NAICS

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Operators (HDAIACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wholesale Fixed Access & Bitstream Providers (HDAIABAF), Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ), Carrier Ethernet & Wavelength Wholesale (E-Line/E-LAN, OTN, lambda) (HDAIAEAB)

Keywords

• Fiber optic internet
• Telecommunications services
• Cloud and IT services
• Business IT security
• Housing industry connectivity

Headquarters

HQ city

Gelsenkirchen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Residential Fiber Services: Internet, telephony, and TV services for private customers through fiber optic connections. Subscription-based recurring revenue model with monthly billing.
2. Business IT Services: IT network services, IT security, cloud solutions, and storage services for commercial customers. Includes stand-alone connections, site networking, and DDoS protection.
3. Wholesale Network Access: Open access wholesale model allowing other telecommunications providers to purchase network capacity on the Gelsen-Net fiber infrastructure.
4. Housing Industry Services: Fiber connection services for housing companies and property management, enabling digital infrastructure for residential buildings.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Gelsen-Net delivers fiber optic-based internet, telephony, and TV services to private customers, plus IT network, IT security, cloud, and storage services to business customers, and dedicated fiber connectivity solutions to the housing industry. The company operates an owned 1,000+ km FTTH network and its own data center across eight cities in the Emscher-Lippe/Ruhr region, and provides wholesale open-access network capacity to other providers.

Product overview

Gelsen-Net is a regional telecommunications provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of fiber optic-based services for residential, business, and housing industry customers. For private customers, the core offerings include high-speed Internet (up to 1,000 Mbit/s), telephony, and TV services delivered via fiber optic connections, complemented by hardware rentals, installation services, and Dual Stack IPv4/IPv6 support. Business customers receive integrated IT solutions across three pillars: IT-Netze (network infrastructure including fiber connections, LoRaWAN, and WiFi), IT-Services (cloud solutions and application services backed by their own data center), and IT-Sicherheit (security solutions including firewalls and DDoS protection). Notable add-on services include the CyberRisikoCheck for cybersecurity risk assessment, the Digital Hub Ruhr innovation showcase, customer portal, webmail, and infrastructure planning tools (Leitungsauskunft). The company operates its own 1,000+ kilometer fiber network across eight NRW cities, serving over 40,000 customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Digital Hub Ruhr: A multifunctional innovation space of 160 square meters established by GELSEN-NET as one of four founding partners, showcasing digital future projects for networks, sensor technology, applications, and digital ecosystems.
• OPEN GELSEN-CLOUD
• Ruhr-Backbone

Products and services

• Glasfaser-Internet (Privatkunden) High-speed fiber optic internet connectivity for residential customers with speeds up to 1,000 Mbit/s, providing reliable and stable connections for home use.
• Telefonie Voice over fiber telephony services bundled with internet packages, providing landline connectivity over the fiber network for residential customers.
• TV (Internet-TV) Television services delivered via fiber optic connection, offering digital TV programming integrated with internet service for residential customers.
• Hardware (Glasfaser-Hardware) WLAN routers and other hardware equipment required for fiber optic internet connectivity, available for purchase by residential customers.
• Installationsservice Professional installation services for fiber optic connections, including Dual Stack setup and on-site technical support for residential customers.
• IT-Netze (Geschäftskunden) Enterprise-grade network infrastructure solutions including fiber optic connections, LoRaWAN, Free WiFi networks, and high-quality telephony for business customers.
• IT-Services (Geschäftskunden) Customized IT services for businesses including flexible cloud solutions and individual application services, supported by Gelsen-Net's own data center operations.
• IT-Sicherheit (Geschäftskunden) IT security solutions including firewalls and DDoS protection services to safeguard sensitive business data from cyber attacks for business customers.
• Storage & Cloud / Server-Lösungen (OPEN GELSEN-CLOUD) Cloud and server solutions enabling businesses to store data and access flexible computing resources, supported by Gelsen-Net's own data center (marketed under the OPEN GELSEN-CLOUD sub-brand for digital sovereignty).
• CyberRisikoCheck BSI-recommended cybersecurity risk assessment service based on DIN SPEC 27076 guidelines, helping businesses identify IT security vulnerabilities.
• Wholesale Open Access Network Capacity Open access wholesale fiber capacity and FTTH bitstream access that allows other telecommunications providers to use Gelsen-Net's network infrastructure to serve their own customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% fiber coverage rate (61,000 of 156,000 homes passed) in Gelsenkirchen market area
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TelemarkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025Fourth partner in Ruhr-Backbone cooperation network with regional network and data center operators DOKOM21, GELSEN-NET, and GLASFASER RUHR. Foundation is the new Telemark data center construction in Menden. Partnership expands network reach and provides redundant data center capacity.
• vitroconnectcoreTechnology or Integration · 9 September 2025Digital platform partnership for automated fiber network management. The CAP platform enables seamless communication between network operators, service providers, and customers through standardized interfaces and product codes. Multiple wholesale models implemented including FTTH Bitstream Access to 1&1 Telecom and network purchasing from Westconnect.
• WestconnectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2025FTTH Bitstream partnership covering approximately 250,000 households in seven Ruhr area cities (Bottrop, Castrop-Rauxel, Gelsenkirchen, Gladbeck, Herten, Marl, Recklinghausen). Mutual network access agreement enabling customers to choose between E.ON Highspeed and Gelsen-Net products on the shared fiber infrastructure.
• 1&1 VersatelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 April 2025Open access cooperation enabling 1&1 Versatel to offer fast fiber internet services on Gelsen-Net's fiber infrastructure across eight Ruhr area cities. Access to over 1,000 kilometers of fiber network enabling enterprise customers to be connected with minimal construction effort.
• DOKOM21coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founding partner of Ruhr-Backbone network and co-operator of Ruhr-CIX internet exchange. DOKOM21 is the largest data center operator in the Ruhr area by number of locations and total space.
• GLASFASER RUHRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founding partner of Ruhr-Backbone network. Company of Stadtwerke Bochum Gruppe building city-wide fiber network in Bochum, providing sustainable technologies and energy-efficient data centers.
• VerizonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Digital Hub Ruhr (DHR) initiative. Verizon provides global hub network connectivity linking Digital Hub Ruhr with 15+ additional innovation hubs worldwide, showcasing 5G, AI, and sensor technologies.
• Wirtschaftsförderung GelsenkirchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint organizer of Make-IT events and Security Day conferences. Collaboration aims to strengthen IT awareness and digital security among regional SMEs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• M-net Telekommunikation: Bavarian regional fiber and fixed-line operator owned by municipal utilities (Stadtwerke München, Augsburg, etc.). Closely analogous business model to Gelsen-Net: municipal-utility-owned FTTH provider serving residential, business, and housing-industry customers in a defined metropolitan region.
• NetCologne: Regional telecom operator owned by municipal utilities (Stadtwerke Köln) providing fiber internet, telephony, TV, and B2B services in the Cologne/Bonn area. Same utility-telco ownership structure and product mix as Gelsen-Net, but operating in a non-overlapping NRW geography.
• EWE TEL: Telecommunications arm of EWE AG serving northern and western Germany with fiber, DSL, and mobile services. Operates under a comparable municipal-utility ownership model and pursues regional fiber expansion; geographically adjacent to Gelsen-Net's NRW footprint but does not directly overlap.

Direct peers

• Deutsche Glasfaser: One of Germany's largest FTTH-only operators (EQT-backed) rolling out fiber to rural and suburban areas nationwide. Competes with Gelsen-Net for housing-industry and municipal fiber contracts in Germany and pursues an open-access business model directly comparable to Gelsen-Net's wholesale approach.
• Telemark: Regional fiber and data center operator in NRW that joined the Ruhr-Backbone consortium (with Gelsen-Net, DOKOM21, GLASFASER RUHR) in 2025. Operates comparable FTTH and carrier services in overlapping NRW geographies with similar municipal-utility heritage.
• 1&1 Versatel: German B2B fiber and fixed-network carrier using open-access infrastructure including Gelsen-Net's network across 8 Ruhr cities. Directly comparable enterprise fiber-connectivity, site-networking, and managed services portfolio targeting the same SME and enterprise customer segments.
• DOKOM21: Regional telecommunications provider in the Ruhr area and co-founding partner with Gelsen-Net in the Ruhr-Backbone network and Ruhr-CIX internet exchange. Operates its own fiber infrastructure, data centers, and serves residential and business customers across an overlapping NRW footprint with comparable product mix.
• GLASFASER RUHR: Stadtwerke Bochum Group subsidiary building city-wide FTTH networks in Bochum and surrounding Ruhr municipalities. Co-founding Ruhr-Backbone partner with Gelsen-Net; offers directly comparable fiber residential and B2B services in adjacent cities within the same Ruhr region.
• Westconnect: E.ON subsidiary deploying FTTH across the Ruhr region, with whom Gelsen-Net has a mutual FTTH Bitstream partnership covering 250,000 households across 7 cities. Direct infrastructure overlap and shared open-access arrangements make them simultaneously a competitor and wholesale partner.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Telekom: Germany's incumbent telecom operator with nationwide copper, FTTH, and mobile networks. The dominant competitor in Gelsen-Net's served geographies; drives the DSL-to-fiber migration cycle and sets the baseline for pricing and service expectations across the German broadband market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/p/Gelsen-Net-100085386503836
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/12747198/admin/feed/posts
• Instagraminstagram.com/gelsen_net

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gelsen-Net