17. March 2025

BREKO press statement on the planned frequency extension: Missed opportunity for effective competition in mobile communications

Bonn, March 17, 2025 – Sven Knapp, Head of the Capital Office of the German Broadband Association (BREKO), comments on the Federal Network Agency’s planned decision on the extension of mobile frequencies:

“This is a slap in the face for competition, regardless of the interests of consumers and business customers. Instead of finally creating effective competition in mobile telephony, the Federal Network Agency continues to protect the mobile top dogs Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica from unwelcome competition. Instead of practically useless “guard rails” for the ineffective negotiation requirement, the authority should have introduced a service provider obligation. The Federal Network Agency missed this opportunity to ensure genuine competition. As a result, the service providers now face years of unsuccessful attempts at negotiation, while the established mobile network operators can expand their dominant position in the market largely undisturbed.”

About BREKO

As the leading fibre association with more than 540 member companies, the German Broadband Association (BREKO) promotes competition in the German telecommunications market. Its members are clearly committed to future-proof fibre networks and are responsible for more than half of the deployment of fibre connections in Germany. In 2024, they invested 4.9 billion euros for this purpose. Further information can be found at brekoverband.de/en.