FairNetz
FairNetz GmbH is a Reutlingen-based regional multi-utility and FTTB fiber network operator serving approximately 130,000 people in Baden-Württemberg with electricity, gas, water, heat, and fiber optic telecom services under regulated and subscription revenue models.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersReutlingen, Germany
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What FairNetz does
FairNetz GmbH is a regional multi-utility and network operator headquartered in Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The company supplies electricity, natural gas, drinking water, and district heating, and provides fiber optic telecommunications (FTTB) across the Reutlingen region and surrounding communities, serving approximately 130,000 people. The company traces its operational heritage to Stadtwerke Reutlingen, which began operating copper telecommunications networks in the 1960s; it transitioned to fiber optic infrastructure in the 1990s and re-branded as FairNetz.
The core technology stack includes a multi-voltage electricity grid (low, medium, high), 529 km of water supply pipelines with 13 storage facilities (~25,000 m³ capacity) achieving only 3.5% water loss, and a Smart-Meter-Gateway-enabled metering infrastructure. Since 2020, FairNetz has retailed fiber internet and phone services under the "FairNetz Basic" brand across five speed tiers (150/75 to 2,000/1,000 Mbit/s), and bundles waipu.tv IPTV and a 4K streaming stick as add-ons. Six online portals support self-service for residential customers, installers, and network planning inquiries.
FairNetz's business model rests on four regulated and commercial revenue streams: regulated network fees (Netzentgelte) for electricity, gas, water, and heat; subscription fiber internet and telephony (post-promo pricing €44.90-€139.90/month); one-time network connection fees for new builds; and managed metering services. Customer segments span private residential customers, commercial businesses, and municipal utilities, all served within the exclusive regional concession. Federal and state subsidies (Gigabit-Richtlinie 2.0) are funding fiber expansion into underserved areas such as Degerschlacht beginning mid-2026.
FairNetz firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FairNetz
- Legal name
- FairNetz GmbH
- Website
- https://fairnetzgmbh.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- FairNetz GmbH is a Reutlingen-based regional multi-utility and FTTB fiber network operator serving approximately 130,000 people in Baden-Württemberg with electricity, gas, water, heat, and fiber optic telecom services under regulated and subscription revenue models.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FairNetz industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Multi-Utility Network Operator
- NAICS
- Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fiber ISPs (FTTH/FTTP Retail Providers) (HDAIADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Municipal & Community Broadband Networks (HDAIACAE)
Keywords
Where FairNetz is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reutlingen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
FairNetz business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Network Fees (Netzentgelte): Charges for electricity, gas, water, and heat network usage. These are regulated fees collected for access to the distribution network infrastructure.
- Telecommunications Services: Revenue from fiber optic internet, phone, and TV services (waipu.tv partnership). Includes monthly subscription fees for various speed tiers and optional add-ons.
- Network Connection Fees: One-time fees for new network connections, including electricity, gas, water, and fiber optic connections. Also includes construction power and construction water services.
- Metering Services: Revenue from meter operation and reading services, including installation, maintenance, and reading of electricity, gas, and water meters.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | FairNetz Basic 2000/1000 - Maximum speed fiber tier |
| Subscription | Monthly | FairNetz Basic 1000/500 - High speed fiber tier |
| Subscription | Monthly | FairNetz Basic 600/300 - Mid-range fiber tier |
| Subscription | Monthly | FairNetz Basic 300/150 - Entry fiber tier |
| Subscription | Monthly | FairNetz Basic 150/75 - Basic fiber tier |
| Subscription | Monthly | waipu.tv Comfort - TV streaming service |
| Subscription | Monthly | waipu.tv Perfect Plus - Premium TV streaming |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Water Standpipe Rental |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
FairNetz product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FairNetz GmbH operates a regional multi-utility and telecommunications network in the Reutlingen area, distributing electricity, natural gas, drinking water, and district heating, and providing fiber-to-the-building (FTTB) internet, telephony, and IPTV (waipu.tv) services to residential, commercial, and municipal customers. The company also delivers smart meter operations, network connections, and technical services for installers and municipalities.
Product overview
FairNetz GmbH is a regional multi-utility operator providing integrated energy and telecommunications services in the Reutlingen area. The company operates as a network operator and technical service provider across five core divisions: Electricity (Strom), Natural Gas (Erdgas), Drinking Water (Trinkwasser), District Heating (Wärme), and Telecommunications (Telekommunikation). The telecommunications portfolio, launched in 2020, centers on fiber-to-the-building (FTTB) internet and phone services branded as 'FairNetz Basic,' offered in five speed tiers from 150/75 Mbit/s to 2,000/1,000 Mbit/s, with optional add-ons including FRITZ!Box routers and waipu.tv IPTV streaming (Comfort and Perfect Plus tiers). The energy portfolio encompasses network connections (electricity, gas, water, fiber), smart meter services with online consumption portals, solar/feed-in management, EV charging station registration, and municipal services including street lighting, water analysis, and gas installation inspections. Customer-facing digital services include dedicated portals for fiber customers, installers, network connections, network information, and outage reporting—all accessible through the company's servicewelt (service world) online hub.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FairNetz Basic Fiber Internet & Phone
- waipu.tv Comfort IPTV
Quantifiable outcome
- Network operates across all voltage levels: low, medium, and high voltage
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use FairNetz
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FairNetz technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
FairNetz partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Exaring AG (waipu.tv)corewaipu.tv is a TV streaming service offered through FairNetz's fiber network. The partnership provides FairNetz customers with access to over 310 TV channels, on-demand content, and streaming capabilities. waipu.tv is provided as an add-on service to FairNetz's fiber optic internet products.
- Stadt Reutlingen (City of Reutlingen)flagshipPartnership with the City of Reutlingen for fiber optic network expansion. FairNetz received the contract from the city to install fiber infrastructure in Degerschlacht district as part of the federal and state subsidized broadband expansion program. The project serves 60 underserved buildings.
- Aconium ProjektträgerminorProject management entity responsible for overseeing the federal broadband expansion funding program.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FairNetz competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Deutsche Glasfaser: One of Germany's largest FTTH rollout specialists with strong focus on rural and suburban underserved areas. Comparable in business model — subsidized community broadband expansion with multi-utility-style municipal engagement.
- M-Net Telekommunikations: Regional telecom operator in Bavaria owned by municipal utilities and infrastructure funds. Directly comparable as a regional FTTH ISP serving households and businesses, competing with national telco incumbents outside major metropolitan areas.
- Deutsche GigaNetz: German regional fiber-to-the-home rollout company focused on underserved municipalities. Comparable in targeting community broadband expansion via subsidized programs and municipal partnerships, much like FairNetz's Degerschlacht project.
- Stadtwerke Esslingen: Municipal utility in Baden-Württemberg operating electricity, gas, water, district heating, and telecom services. Comparable as a regional multi-utility with regulated network operations and an integrated telecom arm.
- NetCom BW: Regional fiber and telecommunications operator in Baden-Württemberg, owned by EnBW. Directly comparable as a regional FTTB/H ISP serving municipalities in the same German state as FairNetz, with similar SMB and residential fiber offerings.
- Stadtwerke Tübingen: Municipal multi-utility in Baden-Württemberg offering electricity, gas, water, heat, and fiber/telecom services to a similar-sized Tübingen population. Closest like-for-like German municipal utility peer with a comparable vertical integration profile.
- Stadtwerke Konstanz: Lake Constance-area multi-utility supplying electricity, gas, water, heat, and broadband — FairNetz actually sources ~66% of its water from the Bodensee water association, making Konstanz a particularly relevant water-supply peer.
Broad incumbents
- EWE TEL: Telecom and fiber subsidiary of EWE AG, a regional multi-utility in northwestern Germany. Comparable business structure — utility-owned fiber operator providing FTTH, telephony, and bundled services to residential customers.
- Tele Columbus (PYUR): Large German regional cable and fiber network operator serving multiple federal states. Comparable as a regional broadband ISP competing against national telco incumbents, though at significantly larger scale than FairNetz.
- Stadtwerke München (SWM / M-net shareholder): One of Germany's largest municipal utilities and an M-net co-shareholder. Relevant as a scaled municipal multi-utility precedent — illustrates how the multi-utility + fiber model can scale, providing a long-term strategic roadmap for FairNetz.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FairNetz social profiles
Digital presenceFairNetz financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FairNetz leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
FairNetz funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FairNetz M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FairNetz
What does FairNetz do?
FairNetz GmbH operates a regional multi-utility and telecommunications network in the Reutlingen area, distributing electricity, natural gas, drinking water, and district heating, and providing fiber-to-the-building (FTTB) internet, telephony, and IPTV (waipu.tv) services to residential, commercial, and municipal customers. The company also delivers smart meter operations, network connections, and technical services for installers and municipalities.
Is FairNetz a public or private company?
FairNetz is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was FairNetz founded?
FairNetz was founded in 1960.
Where is FairNetz based?
FairNetz is headquartered in Reutlingen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does FairNetz make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Network Fees (Netzentgelte) is the primary driver. The others are telecommunications Services, network Connection Fees and metering Services.
Who are FairNetz's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Deutsche Glasfaser, M-Net Telekommunikations, Deutsche GigaNetz, Stadtwerke Esslingen, NetCom BW, Stadtwerke Tübingen and Stadtwerke Konstanz. Broad incumbents are EWE TEL, Tele Columbus (PYUR) and Stadtwerke München (SWM / M-net shareholder).
Does FairNetz have an API?
No public API is recorded for FairNetz.
What industry is FairNetz in?
FairNetz's product category is Multi-Utility Network Operator. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIADAE, Fiber ISPs (FTTH/FTTP Retail Providers), with a secondary code of HDAIACAE, Municipal & Community Broadband Networks. Its NAICS code is 517111 and its SIC code is 4941.