German towns Jülich and Ottersberg launch free fiber broadband projects

The municipal utility in Jülich, Germany, is offering residents of the Koslar and Barmen districts a free fiber‑to‑the‑home connection if they submit a property‑owner declaration by 17 July. The free service covers up to 15 metres of cabling; any additional metre costs €70 plus VAT. The first installation is scheduled for early September, allowing households to save the usual €2,999 connection fee.

In the neighboring state of Lower Saxony, Ottersberg has begun construction under the federal‑state "Graue Flecken" (gray‑spot) programme. The project aims to equip 1,300 previously unserved addresses with gigabit‑capable fiber links by June 2028. Funding of €9.5 million – part of a €17 million investment – is shared by the federal government, the state, the district and the municipality. The local telecom firm BIN will carry out the work, and the new connections will be provided to households at no cost.