OTE Responds to PPC’s Telecom Ambitions with Confidence and Strategic Readiness

The entry of Public Power Corporation (PPC) into the Greek telecommunications market has stirred industry discussions for months, with some labeling it a potential market disruptor in a sector long dominated by established players.

However, for OTE Group, the country’s largest telecom provider, the move comes as no surprise. Speaking during the company’s Q2 2025 earnings call, CEO Kostas Nebis emphasized that OTE is strategically prepared to defend its market leadership.

“PPC’s challenge is manageable”

According to Nebis, PPC’s activity in broadband services has been closely monitored for months. Through its subsidiary FiberGrid, PPC has been expanding a Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network and launched its retail internet-only service in June 2025.

Despite the momentum, PPC’s market penetration remains limited, currently covering less than 10% of the broadband market, Nebis said.“We have the flexibility and tools to adapt our strategy and maintain our leading position in an evolving landscape,” the OTE CEO affirmed.

OTE’s Defensive Strategy: Infrastructure and Diversification

OTE relies on its:

• Comprehensive portfolio of services (broadband, mobile, fixed-line, pay-TV),
• Technological edge, and
• Strong customer base.

Nebis pointed out that in areas where PPC has already launched its services, many customers have migrated to OTE’s FTTH infrastructure, seeking advanced connectivity and trusted service.

Energy + Telecom Bundles: A Competitive Advantage

OTE is also leveraging its long-standing partnerships to offer bundled energy and telecom services.

Through collaboration with Metlen and Protergia, OTE has been offering discounted telecom bills to customers choosing combined packages. This initiative, launched in 2016, has been strengthened through the MagentaOneprogram, promoted via OTE’s retail stores.“We offer a wide range of differentiated services that enable us to defend our customer base and respond flexibly to market developments,” Nebis stated.

OTE’s FTTH Footprint: Market Leadership in Infrastructure

As of June 2025:

• OTE’s FTTH network covers 1.9 million homes and businesses.
• The target is to reach 2.1 million by end-2025 and 3 million by 2027.

Key metrics:

• FTTH uptake rate (OTE network utilization): 31%, up from 24% a year earlier.
• Of the 470,000 FTTH subscribers nationwide, 84% are on OTE’s network.
• 46% of rival providers’ FTTH customers also rely on OTE’s infrastructure, up from 37%—a rise attributed to volume-discount wholesale agreements signed over the past year.

PPC’s Fast-Paced FTTH Expansion

According to PPC’s H1 2025 results:

• Its FTTH network has reached 1.3 million premises, marking:
  • +235% growth YoY (since June 2024),
  • +94% growth from end-2024.

Its retail internet-only service, launched in June, is now available to 600,000 homes and businesses, offering guaranteed high speeds at competitive pricing and is rapidly expanding to new regions.

PPC aims to reach 1.5 million premises by end-2025, and 3 million nationwide within five years.

• Total telecom investments for 2024–2026 are estimated at €680 million.

 Market Face-Off with Different Weapons

The Greek telecom landscape is entering a new phase of competition. While OTE banks on its technological superiority, bundled services, and market maturity, PPC is betting on agility, pricing, and rapid fiber rollout.

Whether PPC’s expansion remains a manageable challenge, as OTE’s CEO suggests, will become clearer in the months ahead—as both giants fortify their positions and test their strategies on the ground.

Source: pagenews.gr