German manufacturer AVM’s all-in-one router Fritz!Box is celebrating its 20th anniversary. To draw attention to the milestone, events and promotions will be featured on this website throughout the year.
A few years ago, the Dutch Consumer & Market Authority (ACM) obliged Internet providers to offer their customers free router choice. Around the same time, Eric van Uden, Country Manager Netherlands at AVM, told us that the small business segment welcomed this freedom. AVM jumped on this by appointing its own account manager for this market segment and opening a business portal.
Previously, with the Fritz!Box, AVM focused mainly on home users who want more functionality than what is standard from most Internet providers. Think (semi-)professional users who want to control everything and have the knowledge and skills to do so.
Especially known for XS4All
The Fritz!Box is best known in the Netherlands from Internet provider XS4All, which supplied the device with its services. It is still possible for KPN customers (owner of XS4All, which integrated this independent subsidiary in 2020) to purchase a Fritz!Box under the heading “modem for pros. Before the ACM made free router choice mandatory, consumers were often not allowed to install their own modem or router. The provider then obliged them to use the standard equipment supplied with their subscription.
It was possible to use the Fritz!Box or other routers, but users had to have an XS4All profile. This choice excluded the possibility of making calls, for example. Anyone who insisted on using another modem or router was forced to take out a separate subscription for additional services.
Tip: AVM introduces FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable wifi 6 router
Proprietary operating system
Berlin-based AVM offers various products for broadband connections and home networking. The company is known particularly in Germany as a manufacturer of equipment for DSL, cable, LTE, and fibre. In addition to routers, it offers devices such as wireless repeaters, telephones, radiator thermostats, smart plugs, and LED lights, which can be easily connected via smart home applications.
The products run on a proprietary operating system FRITZ!OS. The company had 890 employees in 2023 and achieved sales of 580 million euros. AVM was founded in 1986.
Notable milestones for the FRITZ!Box
- 2004 – The first FRITZ!Box is presented at Cebit in Hanover on March 18, 2004
- 2009 – FRITZ!Box for VDSL
- 2010 – FRITZ!Box for cable connection
- 2011 – FRITZ!Box for mobile LTE
- 2016 – FRITZ!Box Fiber for fiber optic connection
- 2021 – FRITZ!Box for 5G
- 2022 – FRITZ!Box for 10 Gigabit fiber optics
Also read: Synology RT6600ax router review: ideal router for small business environments
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