David Zimmer Appointed Chairman of the Advisory Board of NGN Fiber Network

The shareholders of NGN Fiber Network GmbH & Co. KG have appointed David Zimmer as Chairman of the Advisory Board, effective 1 October 2026. The founder of fiber-optic network operator inexio and seasoned telecommunications entrepreneur will support NGN in its strategic development and in further strengthening its position as one of Germany’s leading providers of neutral fiber-optic infrastructure. 

Zimmer succeeds Niek Jan van Damme, who chaired the Advisory Board from early 2022 and played a key role in shaping the company’s growth trajectory.

Entrepreneurial Expertise Meets Digital Infrastructure David Zimmer is widely recognized as one of Germany’s most prominent entrepreneurs in the telecommunications and digital infrastructure sectors. He brings more than three decades of entrepreneurial experience. In 2007, he founded inexio and developed the company into a major provider of fiber-optic infrastructure and broadband services in Germany.

Following the sale of inexio to infrastructure investor EQT in 2019 and its subsequent merger with Deutsche Glasfaser, Zimmer joined the Advisory Board of the combined group. 

Today, Zimmer serves as CEO of inexogy, one of the leading providers of smart metering solutions and digital energy infrastructure. He also invests in technology and growth companies through his family office, Kalodion. From 2021 to 2025, he served as President of VATM, the German association of competitive telecommunications and digital, gaining extensive expertise at the intersection of business, public policy and regulation. 

Christoph Völkel, CEO of NGN Fiber Network, comments: “With David Zimmer, we are welcoming an accomplished entrepreneur and one of the most experienced figures in Germany’s telecommunications and fiber-optic industry as Chairman of our Advisory Board. He combines a deep understanding of infrastructure with entrepreneurial expertise and a clear perspective on market dynamics, customer needs and the regulatory environment. As demand for high-performance, neutral fiber-optic infrastructure continues to grow, this combination is particularly valuable to us. I very much look forward to working with David and to the fresh perspectives we will bring to NGN’s future development.” 

David Zimmer is enthusiastic about taking on his new role: “I have laid a lot of fiber in my time. Becoming Chairman of NGN’s Advisory Board is both a return to my roots and a step straight into the future. NGN focuses on what matters most: dark fiber. Hyperscalers and their data centers, mobile and fixed-line network operators, carriers and FTTH providers all depend on high-performance, neutral fiber-optic infrastructure to deliver their services. With a nationwide network spanning more than 22,000 kilometers and its partnership with Eurofiber, NGN is exceptionally well positioned to benefit from these developments. So when the shareholders approached me about the role, I didn't have to think twice.” 

Growth Opportunities Driven by Digitalization, AI and Rising Infrastructure Demand 
NGN Fiber Network operates one of Germany’s largest fiber-optic networks. With more than 22,000 kilometers of its own fiber-optic infrastructure, the company connects key economic regions, internet exchange points and data centers across the country. 
Accelerating digitalization, the expansion of data center capacity to support artificial intelligence applications, and increasingly stringent requirements for network resilience and reliability are driving growing demand for high-performance fiber-optic connectivity. Together with its investment partner Eurofiber, NGN aims to capitalize on these market opportunities and further consolidate its position as a neutral provider of fiber-optic infrastructure. David Zimmer will contribute his extensive experience in building and scaling infrastructure businesses to support these ambitions. 

NGN thanks Niek Jan van Damme for his valuable contribution. With David Zimmer’s appointment, Niek Jan van Damme has stepped down from the Advisory Board. The former member of Deutsche Telekom’s Management Board responsible for Germany supported NGN through a pivotal phase of its development from early 2022. During his tenure, the company continued to expand its nationwide fiber-optic network, strengthened its strategic partnership with Eurofiber and consistently advanced its positioning as a leading dark fiber provider. 

Christoph Völkel expresses his appreciation: “Niek Jan van Damme has supported NGN for more than four years, contributing his extensive experience and personal commitment. On behalf of our shareholders and management team, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for his valuable contribution.” 

About NGN Fiber Network 
NGN Fiber Network GmbH & Co. KG is one of Germany’s leading dark fiber providers, with more than 20 years of experience in fiber-optic infrastructure. The company operates its own continuously expanding fiber-optic network spanning more than 22,000 kilometers, providing connectivity to all major cities, metropolitan areas and internet exchange points relevant to the telecommunications industry. NGN operates a nationwide fiber-optic backbone network in Germany and provides international connectivity to neighboring countries through its own cross-border network links. As a partner of the Eurofiber Group, NGN also offers connectivity to the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland.