Berlin, 23.02.2022 – The telecommunications associations ANGA, bitkom, BREKO, BUGLAS, eco and VATM believe that the “right to the provision of telecommunications services (RaVT)” contained in the new Telecommunications Act (TKG) should be implemented in such a way that non-wireline connections via satellite, mobile communications or radio relay in particular can be used for nationwide digital participation for all citizens. This is because these technologies are powerful, quickly available and do not take up scarce construction and planning capacities that are urgently needed for the ongoing fiber optic expansion.

Fiber optic expansion is in full swing. But it will still be several years before the goal of a nationwide FTTH network agreed in the German government’s coalition agreement is achieved. That is why Anga, bitkom, BREKO, BUGLAS, eco and VATM agree: “We need a pragmatic transitional solution that ensures the supply of the most important Internet services in the short term in order to enable social and economic participation everywhere in Germany.” The associations are appealing to decision-makers at federal and state level to consider wireless technologies as a central part of this solution in order to achieve both goals – fiber optic expansion and basic Internet coverage in the short term – without them getting in each other’s way.

The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) will specify the RaVT by issuing an ordinance by June 1, 2022 that defines the minimum requirements for an Internet connection as defined by the RaVT. The design of these minimum requirements is decisive for the question of whether basic internet coverage can be implemented in the short term without delaying the achievement of the actual goal – the nationwide expansion of fiber optics.

From the associations’ point of view, technological openness is important for the basic internet supply: “Even where gigabit is not yet available, we can and want to provide the vast majority of people with significantly more megabits than can be provided by a basic supply as a safety net. That’s why we want to drive forward the expansion of fiber optics quickly. In order to enable digital participation for all citizens in Germany in the short term, powerful technologies and good Internet services are available in the form of satellite, mobile and microwave radio.” The associations therefore urge: “RaVT must include all technologies so that the available construction and planning resources can be used as efficiently as possible for the further expansion of fiber optics.”