G.fast is back in the news after an extended lockdown, courtesy of German cableco NetCologne, which has just deployed technology from Nokia based on the DSL broadband technology for local loops. Clearly the window of opportunity for G.fast has been visibly closing for a few years, while the pandemic effect has prompted operators to increase fiber investments – which can only mean bad news for G.fast-based build-outs. NetCologne, at least, is a reminder that there is life yet in G.fast at smaller regional network operators. The German cableco, with its half million subscribers, has extended its contract with long term supplier Nokia to upgrade 30,000 FTTB premises from VDSL2 to G.fast technology in the last drop. Nokia came out in…