The German Broadband Association (BREKO) comments on the public consultation launched today by the European Commission on the future of the telecommunications sector – in particular on the question of a possible participation of large tech companies in the costs of network expansion (“fair share”) – as follows:

“We welcome the fact that the European Commission, as requested by BREKO, is conducting an open-ended consultation before working out possible solutions for large tech companies such as Google, Meta or Netflix to contribute to the costs of network expansion.

Involving the big tech companies in the costs can further strengthen the momentum in fiber optic expansion. However, it is crucial that it is implemented in a way that ensures fair competition in the telecommunications market. BREKO believes that three key conditions must be met for this to happen:

In order to ensure fair competition, large telecommunications companies must not exploit their negotiating power to conclude individual agreements with large tech companies. We therefore reject a ‘negotiated solution’ in which telecommunications companies and large tech companies individually agree on the amount and specific conditions of payments. Since the liberalization of the telecommunications markets, the EU Commission has been committed to ensuring that all market players have the same rights and opportunities – this must be maintained at all costs. ‘Fair share’ contributions may only be implemented if alternative network operators can also participate on equal terms.

It is also important that any payments are used exclusively for the specific purpose of covering network costs in connection with genuine fiber optic connections to buildings and homes (FTTB/H).

Last but not least, net neutrality as a central basic principle of the free Internet and the EU’s Open Internet guidelines must not be compromised.

BREKO will participate in the consultation published today in order to represent the interests of its more than 230 fiber optic roll-out member companies and to ensure that a possible implementation of ‘Fair Share’ will advance, and not jeopardize, fiber optic roll-out in Germany and Europe.”