Frankfurt am Main, 02.04.2025 A recent survey and current figures from the fiber optic expansion make it clear at the start of the digital and fiber optic trade fair fiberdays 25: The further expansion of the digital infrastructure needs top political priority and effective measures.

Current figures on the status of fiber optic expansion

At the start of the fiberdays 25 congress trade fair, Prof. Dr. Jens Böcker presented the latest figures on fibre optic availability in Germany. According to these figures, the fiber optic expansion rate (“Homes passed”) was 48.8% (22.5 million) at the end of 2024 – an increase of 9.1 percentage points compared to the previous year. The fiber access rate based on homes connected rose to 24.5% (11.3 million) – an increase of 4.1 percentage points compared to 2.5 percentage points in 2023. With a share of 61% of homes passed, 70% of homes connected and 77% of homes activated, Telekom’s competitors continue to be the main drivers of the expansion. “The expansion of fiber optics is making progress, so that the interim political goal of the old traffic light government – 50% fiber optic availability by the end of 2025 – will definitely be achieved. However, the further development of the expansion stands and falls with the investment climate. Politicians must also create investment- and competition-friendly conditions for this,” Böcker summarizes the update of the BREKO market analysis.

Population and economy: New federal government must prioritize expansion of digital infrastructure

A Civey survey published today on behalf of the German Broadband Association (BREKO) shows the acute need for political action on digital infrastructure from the perspective of the general population: two thirds of respondents expect a new German government to make improving the digital infrastructure (fiber optic and mobile expansion) a high (41%) or top (26%) priority. Another result of the representative survey: A clear majority of German private households (59%) have the impression that fiber optic expansion is progressing slowly or not at all. Only three percent believe that progress is being made quickly.

“Instead of proclaiming grand new visions and goals, the CDU/CSU and SPD should agree on essential measures for the further expansion of fiber optics in the coalition agreement, which will be implemented in the first year of the new government. This starts with the composition of the ministries. The overarching digital topics, which also include digital infrastructure, should be bundled in an independent ministry and actively shaped there rather than continuing to be treated as an appendage,” emphasizes BREKO President Norbert Westfal.

The survey results underline that the expansion of the digital infrastructure must have high priority in a new federal government, states BREKO Managing Director Dr. Stephan Albers: “Three specific measures in particular have high priority: We need a binding, consumer-friendly and competition-neutral concept for the infrastructure upgrade from copper to fibre, a genuine expansion acceleration law and a consistent reduction in bureaucracy.” At the same time, Albers emphasizes that the telecommunications industry also needs to do its homework, communicate the benefits of fibre even better and optimize its processes. “A nationwide fiber optic image campaign would complement the industry’s commitment and help to communicate the great added value of fiber optics to even more people.”

Hessian Digital Minister Sinemus focuses on the digitalization of administrative procedures

Referring to the host federal state, Hesse’s Digital Minister Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus said in her keynote speech at the opening of fiberdays: “The momentum in the expansion of fibre optics in Hesse remains high: three quarters of all households and almost all schools and hospitals are already connected with gigabit capability. In order to achieve nationwide coverage by 2030, we are relying on digital planning and approval procedures that will significantly accelerate this process. The use of such procedures, such as the broadband portal, must therefore also become mandatory nationwide.”

Future-proof digital infrastructure important for AI development in Germany

In his keynote speech, Dr. Marc Scheufen from the German Economic Institute (IW) emphasized the high relevance of fibre optic expansion, especially for the use of artificial intelligence: “The digital fibre optic infrastructure is the backbone for leveraging the enormous economic potential of AI. Without an acceleration of the expansion, Germany and Europe will lose touch with the global pioneers.”

The update of the BREKO market analysis can be found here: BREKO Market Analysis: Update April 2025

The results of the Civey survey can be found here: Civey survey on behalf of BREKO

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

Press photos of fiberdays25 can be found here: Photos of the opening congress