Berlin, April 9, 2025 – Sven Knapp, Head of the Capital Office at the German Broadband Association (BREKO), comments on the coalition agreement published today by the future German government consisting of the CDU/CSU and SPD:

“BREKO welcomes the swift agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD on a coalition agreement. This is a positive signal for political stability and the basis for the rapid implementation of important projects.

The coalition agreement contains important approaches for the further expansion of the digital infrastructure. Particularly noteworthy are the planned concept for upgrading the infrastructure from copper to fiber optic networks and the agreement to introduce an effective Network Expansion Acceleration Act and consistently reduce bureaucracy. However, it is crucial that these measures are implemented quickly and with high priority. After all, an investment-friendly and fair competition-oriented policy from the new German government is essential to enable companies to make the necessary billion-euro investments in fiber optic expansion.

The planned continuation of gigabit funding is fundamentally correct. However, it should be designed for the long term and be carried out with a sense of proportion, as money alone does not build networks and does not solve the structural challenges. Too much state funding would hinder expansion rather than accelerate it.

BREKO takes a positive view of the planned establishment of an independent Ministry for Digitization and State Modernization. This underlines the high priority of digitization and enables central control and responsibility of this economically and socially important topic. It is now important to ensure that the digital ministry is able to act quickly by taking over the departments from other ministries that are already working on the relevant topics. Germany cannot afford a standstill in digital policy.”