BREKO on the Federal Network Agency’s report: Sustainably strengthening competition in the mobile communications market instead of systematically blocking it
Berlin, 23.01.2024 – The Federal Network Agency today published an expert opinion on the competitive situation in the mobile communications market. Dr. Stephan Albers, Managing Director of the German Broadband Communications Association (BREKO), comments:
“The experts’ assessment misses the reality. The report paints a rosy picture of the mobile communications world. Even if a large number of sub-brands of the three established mobile network operators, such as Aldi Talk or Congstar, give the impression: there is currently no effective competition on the German mobile market, especially in the wholesale sector!
Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica are still systematically delaying the offer of 5G tariffs for competitors without their own mobile network. In the end, it is the end customers who suffer from the lack of choice, as they are often only able to use 4G technology. Incidentally, there is a method to this strategy: as described in the report, in the past, the established providers have only made 4G offers available after a delay of five, seven or eight years on the basis of the applicable negotiation requirement.
There is therefore no alternative to the introduction of a service provider obligation. Only the obligation of the three established mobile network operators to provide independent competitors with non-discriminatory access to the networks will strengthen competition on the mobile communications market in the long term – and is expressly desired by competitors.
This is also shown by a recent BREKO evaluation of comments on the Federal Network Agency’s proposal on the framework conditions for frequency allocation: all 17 participating telecommunications companies, with the exception of the established mobile network operators, are calling for an effective and unbureaucratic service provider obligation, as are the Federation of German Consumer Organizations, the Federal Cartel Office and the Monopolies Commission.
The Federal Network Agency has announced that it will take the report into account in the upcoming frequency allocation process. However, this would not strengthen competition, but at best maintain the status quo. Alongside the planned extension of mobile frequencies, this would be the second gift for the three established mobile network operators. This in turn contradicts the legislator’s aim of promoting competition in the mobile communications market.”
About BREKO
Als führender Glasfaserverband mit mehr als 510 Mitgliedsunternehmen setzt sich der Bundesverband Breitbandkommunikation e.V. (BREKO) erfolgreich für den Wettbewerb im deutschen Telekommunikationsmarkt ein. Seine Mitglieder setzen klar auf die zukunftssichere Glasfaser und zeichnen für mehr als die Hälfte des Ausbaus von Glasfaseranschlüssen in Deutschland verantwortlich. Die über 260 im Verband organisierten Telekommunikations-Netzbetreiber versorgen sowohl Ballungsräume als auch ländliche Gebiete mit zukunftssicheren Glasfaseranschlüssen. Im Jahr 2023 haben sie dafür 4,8 Milliarden Euro investiert. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter brekoverband.de.