Wiesbaden, 27.02.2024 The telecommunications industry is robust in the face of increasing challenges and is calling for five immediate political measures to keep fiber optic investments attractive. DIW head Fratzscher emphasizes the potential of digitalization for the competitiveness of the German economy.

A shortage of skilled workers, a turnaround in interest rates, increases in construction costs and consumer restraint: at today’s kick-off of fiberdays, the telecommunications industry and politicians clearly identified the current challenges for the expansion of fibre optics – and discussed concrete solutions. “The fiber optic industry is in a very robust position. Our strength is that fiber optic expansion in Germany is spread across many shoulders,” said BREKO Managing Director Dr. Stephan Albers. “Of course, the general conditions have become more difficult in recent months. But our market analyses show that investments are continuing and the companies expanding fiber optics – 250 in BREKO alone – will be able to adapt to the changed conditions.”

In order to keep fiber optic investments attractive in the future, Albers made concrete demands on politicians: “The industry does not need a master plan for 2030, but measures that take effect immediately: The federal government must stop Deutsche Telekom’s strategic double expansion, the Federal Network Agency must present a market-driven concept for copper-fibre-optic migration and the federal and state governments must finally dose the exuberant gigabit funding in such a way that it does not cannibalize self-economic expansion.”

“The challenges in fiber optic expansion have increased significantly in the two years since the much-cited ‘turnaround’,” confirmed Norbert Westfal, President of the German Broadband Association (BREKO) and Spokesman of the Management Board of EWE TEL, and made two further demands: “To ensure that the industry can continue to expand at the capacity limit over the next few years, we now need a clear signal from politicians: In the Telecommunications Network Expansion Acceleration Act, mobile and fiber optic expansion must be defined as ‘in the overriding public interest’ in order to accelerate approval procedures. In addition, fiber optic providers without their own mobile network need fair access to 5G advance services. Only an effective service provider obligation can ensure fair competition by offering attractive bundled tariffs for fixed and mobile networks, enabling us to compete with mobile network operators on an equal footing.”

Prof. Marcel Fratzscher, President of the German Institute for Economic Research, underlined how relevant these demands are. He emphasized the leverage effect of successful digitalization: “Digitalization is an important opportunity for companies to increase their productivity and to better assert themselves in global competition. Faster and more comprehensive digitalization is also becoming increasingly urgent in times of skills shortages.”

Oliver Gürtler, Head of SME Business at Microsoft Germany, agreed with this. He also emphasized the great importance of artificial intelligence for the fiber optic industry: “Microsoft is pleased to participate in fiberdays as a partner of BREKO and to support the fiber optic industry as the backbone of digitization with our cloud solutions. We are convinced that AI is an accelerator for innovation, growth and social progress if it is used responsibly and ethically. The fiberdays are a great opportunity to exchange ideas and network. We look forward to shaping the digital future together.”

The impulses were the prelude to an extensive two-day congress program with six panel discussions and numerous lectures, workshops and seminars. Executives from well-known telecommunications companies and decision-makers from federal, state and local government will address current issues relating to the expansion of digital infrastructure. Topics include sustainability aspects in fiber optic expansion, open access, investments, strategic issues, technical innovations, European regulation and much more. Prof. Dr. Jens Böcker and Kerstin Stromberg-Mallmann will lead through the program.

All information about the congress trade fair can be found at fiberdays.de.