Glasfaser Direkt

What Glasfaser Direkt does

Glasfaser Direkt GmbH is a regional German fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) telecommunications operator headquartered in Köln, serving residential and small-business customers across five federal states. The company operates a 100% fiber network delivering internet, VoIP telephony, and IPTV, with symmetric speeds up to 2,000 Mbit/s download and 500 Mbit/s upload, and five consumer tariff tiers (direkt 150 to direkt 2.000) priced from €29.90 to €129.90 per month under 24-month contracts. Its proprietary infrastructure is the central product: customers in newly built-out municipalities receive true end-to-end fiber without copper fallback, allowing consistent speeds regardless of distance or neighborhood load. Supporting products include AVM Fritz!Box router rentals and waipu.tv streaming bundled in higher tiers.

The company monetizes almost entirely through recurring subscription fees, with ancillary revenue from router rentals and one-time setup fees (€69.90). Its go-to-market is community-led: door-to-door field sales, info evenings, mobile info stands (Infomobil), and cooperation agreements with municipalities drive demand bundling during pre-construction phases, after which self-service online ordering takes over. Glasfaser Direkt pursues Bavarian state gigabit funding to underwrite buildouts in under-served municipalities, and holds the BREKO 'Echte Glasfaser' certification (2022) and a 2021 sustainability award. Following insolvency proceedings, the company was acquired by CarMa networks GmbH in September 2023 and now operates as part of the CarMa Unternehmensgruppe under Managing Directors Marco Zapf and Michael Neska.

Name

Glasfaser Direkt

Legal name

Glasfaser Direkt GmbH

Website

https://glasfaser-direkt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Glasfaser Direkt is a German regional FTTH telecommunications provider offering 100% fiber internet, telephony, and IPTV to residential and SMB customers across five federal states via a five-tier subscription model and community-led municipal buildouts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fiber Internet Services

NAICS

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Rural Broadband & Cooperative Fiber Operators (HDAIACAG), Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ)

Keywords

• Fiber internet services
• Telecommunications services
• Internet service provider
• Residential broadband
• Fiber to the home

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Residential Fiber Internet Subscriptions: Monthly recurring subscription fees for fiber optic internet access across five tariff tiers (direkt 150 to direkt 2.000), with 24-month minimum contract terms and automatic renewal.
2. Bundled Services (Phone & TV): Additional revenue from bundled telephony (German landline flat) and mobile flat rates included in higher-tier plans, plus optional TV services with HD channel packages.
3. Router Rental: Monthly rental fees for pre-configured fiber-compatible routers (AVM Fritz!Box models) provided as an add-on to service contracts.
4. Router Promotional Giveaway: Free router promotion offered to new customers during limited-time campaigns (e.g., World Cup promotion), with router valued at approximately 100 euros as a sign-up incentive.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Glasfaser Direkt provides fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) internet access for residential and business customers across five German federal states, delivering symmetric broadband speeds up to 2,000 Mbit/s via its proprietary 100% fiber optic network. The core offering is structured as five tiered monthly subscription tariffs (direkt 150, 300, 600, 1.000, and 2.000) bundled with landline VoIP telephony, optional HD IPTV including waipu.tv, and AVM FRITZ!Box router rental. Services are sold through online ordering, field sales, mobile info stands, and partnerships with municipalities in deployment areas.

Product overview

Glasfaser Direkt is a regional fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) telecommunications provider operating in Germany across 5 federal states, delivering 100% fiber internet, landline telephony, and IP TV services. The company's product portfolio centers on five consumer tariff plans—direkt 150, direkt 300, direkt 600, direkt 1.000, and direkt 2.000—offering progressively higher symmetrical bandwidths (up to 2,000/500 Mbit/s) with internet flat rates, landline flats, mobile flats, and waipu.tv streaming bundled at different tiers. Optional IP TV and pre-configured AVM FRITZ!Box router rental complement the core internet services. All tariffs operate over the company's proprietary FTTH fiber network, with a 24-month minimum contract term and a free router promotion available during the WM 2026 campaign period.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• direkt 150 Entry-level fiber-to-the-home internet plan providing 150 Mbit/s download and 75 Mbit/s upload speeds with an internet flat rate. Priced at €29.90 for the first 6 months, then €44.90/month on a 24-month minimum contract.
• direkt 300 Mid-tier fiber-to-the-home internet plan providing 300 Mbit/s download and 150 Mbit/s upload speeds with a German landline flat. Priced at €29.90 for the first 6 months, then €54.90/month on a 24-month minimum contract.
• direkt 600 High-speed fiber-to-the-home internet plan delivering 600 Mbit/s download and 300 Mbit/s upload speeds with internet flat, German landline flat, and German mobile flat. Priced at €29.90 for the first 6 months, then €59.90/month on a 24-month minimum contract.
• direkt 1.000 Gigabit fiber-to-the-home internet plan offering 1,000 Mbit/s download and 400 Mbit/s upload speeds with internet flat, German landline flat, and German mobile flat. Priced at €29.90 for the first 6 months, then €69.90/month on a 24-month minimum contract.
• direkt 2.000 Performance fiber-to-the-home internet plan delivering 2,000 Mbit/s download and 500 Mbit/s upload speeds with internet flat, German landline flat, German mobile flat, and waipu.tv streaming experience. Priced at €129.90/month at a permanently fixed rate with no promotional price increase.
• IP TV Television service providing HD content with a broad channel selection, offered as an add-on to fiber internet plans. The premium direkt 2.000 tariff includes waipu.tv experience bundled in.
• Router Rental (AVM FRITZ!Box) Pre-configured AVM FRITZ!Box router rental service providing fiber-capable devices ready to use out of the box, with optional DECT cordless phone integration. Also available as a free giveaway during limited-time promotional campaigns such as the WM promotion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 925 tons CO2 saved annually through 40,000+ trees planted via GROW MY TREE partnership
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

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.

• CarMa networks GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023CarMa networks GmbH completed acquisition of Glasfaser Direkt GmbH in September 2023, ending the insolvency proceedings. As parent company, CarMa networks enables continuation of Glasfaser Direkt's mission to provide widespread fiber internet and telecommunications services. The acquisition positions the combined entity to accelerate broadband expansion across Germany.
• mih NET Amberg GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partnermih NET Amberg GmbH serves as the primary construction and implementation partner for fiber network deployment. The company handles civil engineering, fiber optic cable laying, and infrastructure construction across multiple municipalities including Hirschau, Freihung, Schnaittenbach, Gebenbach, Poppenricht, and others. Represents the on-the-ground construction execution partner.
• GROW MY TREEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGROW MY TREE is the sustainability partner for Glasfaser Direkt's reforestation initiative. Through this partnership, the company plants trees in the Global South as part of climate protection efforts, with 40,000+ trees already planted representing annual CO2 savings of 925 tons. The partnership emphasizes not just tree planting but supporting sustainable agroforestry in climate-affected regions.
• Bundesverband Breitbandkommunikation (BREKO)minorOthersBREKO is the German broadband communications industry association. Glasfaser Direkt is a member and received the 'Echte Glasfaser' (Real Fiber) certification seal from BREKO, validating the company's commitment to true 100% fiber-to-the-home infrastructure.
• BUGLAS Bundesverband GlasfaseranschlussminorOthersBUGLAS is the German fiber optic connection industry association representing fiber infrastructure providers and supporting the expansion of fiber networks across Germany.
• VATM Verband der Anbieter von Telekommunikations- und MehrwertdienstenminorOthersVATM is the German telecommunications and value-added services providers association. Glasfaser Direkt maintains membership for industry representation and regulatory engagement.
• Simplex Future GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSimplex Future GmbH is listed as a construction partner alongside mih NET GmbH, contributing to fiber network deployment projects in various municipalities.
• Free State of Bavaria (Gigabit Funding Program)coreOthersThe Bavarian state government provides gigabit funding for fiber expansion in under-served areas, with multiple municipalities (Schnaittenbach: 3.6M euros, Hirschau: 2.4M euros, Poppenricht: 625K euros) receiving public funding for fiber network construction enabling cost-free connections for residents.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 1&1 / United Internet: Major alternative fixed-line and mobile provider in Germany with its own expanding FTTH network. Competes head-to-head on residential internet and bundled mobile/internet tariffs, with stronger brand recognition but less pure-FTTH focus in rural markets.
• Deutsche Glasfaser: Germany's largest pure-play FTTH challenger focused on rural and suburban rollouts using a demand-bundling model. Closest direct competitor to Glasfaser Direkt — same target customers (residential + B2B), same go-to-market, similar tariff structure, and same funding-source exposure.

Broad incumbents

• Telefónica Deutschland (O2): Major German mobile and fixed-line operator. Increasingly active in FTTH partnerships and overbuild, providing both retail and wholesale competition for Glasfaser Direkt's residential customer base.
• Deutsche Telekom: Germany's incumbent telecommunications operator with national FTTH and VDSL/vectoring footprint. Directly competes with Glasfaser Direkt in overlapping municipalities but operates at vastly greater scale with bundled mobile, TV, and B2B offerings.
• Vodafone Germany: Second-largest German fixed-line operator, deploying both DOCSIS 4.0 cable upgrades and FTTH in selected regions. Overlaps with Glasfaser Direkt in some municipalities and competes on bundled internet/TV/mobile offerings.

Regional players

• NetCologne: Regional fiber and cable operator serving the Cologne/Bonn metropolitan region. Directly overlaps with Glasfaser Direkt's headquarters geography (Köln) and competes in adjacent NRW municipalities for the same residential and B2B customers.
• M-net Telekommunikations: Regional fiber operator covering Bavaria and parts of Baden-Württemberg with municipal ownership ties. Direct geographic overlap with Glasfaser Direkt's Bavarian footprint (Amberg, Hirschau, Schnaittenbach) and similar customer segments.
• EWE TEL: Regional fiber and DSL provider in northern and western Germany with municipal utility roots. Comparable in operating model (FTTH in underserved regions, municipal partnerships) and tariff structure to Glasfaser Direkt.

Emerging players

• Deutsche GigaNetz: Emerging German fiber challenger building FTTH in underserved municipalities using a demand-bundling model. Highly comparable to Glasfaser Direkt in target market, technology, and go-to-market — actively competing for similar municipal mandates.
• OXG Glasfaser: Joint venture between Vodafone and Altice focused on wholesale FTTH rollout in Germany. Represents both a competitor and potential wholesale partner for Glasfaser Direkt depending on footprint overlap and infrastructure access terms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GlasfaserDirekt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glasfaser-direkt-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/GlasfaserDirekt
• Xx.com/glasfaserdirekt

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Glasfaser Direkt