Fiber optic expansion in Altena: Insolvency stops progress and leaves trenches behind

Fiber optic expansion in Altena: Insolvency stops progress and leaves trenches behind

In Cologne, things are currently not going well with the fiber optic expansion in Altena and Nachrodt-Wiblingwerde. The insolvency case of Phoenix Engineering GmbH brings an abrupt stop to the construction process. How come-on.de reported, insolvency proceedings were opened in September 2025. The provisional insolvency administrator, Dr. Jörg Gollnick, is faced with an unfortunate situation: Phoenix Engineering leaves behind open trenches and unsafe construction pits.

The situation is getting worse because the company has been withholding payments to subcontractors for some time. A mountain of debt totaling 2.6 million euros is piling up in the Rhein-Lahn district, while numerous Romanian and Greek workers are waiting for their wages. Many of them had to sleep in cars or outside due to unpaid rent ben-kurier.de shows. The Phoenix office in Cologne has now been emptied; It is unclear where the managing directors disappeared to.

Quality and safety of the work

Skepticism in the community is growing. Construction depot manager Robert Groppe was not very positive about the quality of the work carried out so far. In Altena itself, traffic safety has already been ensured, while the open construction sites continue to cause discomfort. The local provider “Our Green Fiber Optic” (UGG) is still trying to smooth things over and assures that the Phoenix case is an isolated case. Internet provider UGG plans to continue the construction sites through other companies, but there is currently no concrete information about a possible successor company in Altena.

In Nachrodt-Wiblingwerde, however, UGG relies on local civil engineers to close the open trenches before winter. The private sector expansion of the fiber optic network is being financed without government subsidies, which doesn't make things any easier. While Telekom is making progress in the subsidized fiber optic expansion, the problems with subcontractors are serious for many of those affected. There is a total loss for damaged companies, and the work done so far leaves a strange aftertaste.

Impact on employees

The developments are catastrophic for the workforce at Phoenix Engineering GmbH. As reported, the employees are not only without wages, but also without accommodation and reserves. The number of companies affected is growing every day, which shows how far-reaching the consequences of insolvency are. The district administration has said it is not responsible for the private-sector expansion, while the Cologne public prosecutor's office may have already opened an investigation.

Finally, it should be noted that fiber optic expansion in the region has slowed down considerably, and the busy construction site boom that it once had is a thing of the past. The hope is that UGG will find suitable partners in a timely manner to get the work going again and that the interrupted projects will not completely come to nothing. Public and economic attention is now focused on how those responsible are addressing the problem surrounding Phoenix Engineering and whether a return to orderly conditions is possible.