Bonn, 19.11.2024 Today, the Federal Network Agency published its planned procedure for regulating the transition from copper to fiber optic networks. The German Broadband Association (BREKO) welcomes this step and urges the rapid development of a competition-compliant concept so as not to jeopardize the further expansion of fibre optics.

With today’s publication, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) are for the first time explicitly acknowledging their responsibility to present their own concept with clear regulations for a competition- and consumer-friendly transition from copper to fiber optic networks.

Of decisive importance for the success of such a concept is a non-discriminatory DSL switch-off also in the areas that Telekom’s competitors have supplied with fiber optic networks. Only then will the copper-fiber migration achieve the desired effects: Energy savings, better utilization of the fiber optic networks, greater investment security and thus a boost for further network expansion.

The BNetzA and BMDV must finalize their concept before Telekom submits the first switch-off applications for its own fibre-optic expansion areas. This is expected to happen in the course of 2025. The BNetzA and BMDV must not sit back now, citing the lack of a government majority and the upcoming federal elections, but must press ahead with the development of their concept at full speed.

Back in April, BREKO presented a proposal for a competition and consumer-friendly concept, including a legal opinion by Andreas Neumann, Managing Director of the Institute for Network, Information and Communication Technology Law (IRNIK).

Also today, the BNetzA published a final report on the three pilot projects for the transition from DSL to fiber optic networks in Wiesbaden and Bad Salzungen.

The pilot projects have shown that consumers need to be involved and fully informed from the outset so that they have sufficient time to adjust to the changeover. Direct contact at the front door is just as essential for this as early involvement of the local authorities.

For a successful start to the copper-fiber optic migration, the BNetzA must now also constructively accompany and support the pilot project for the transition to the fiber optic network of a competitor – in this case Deutsche Glasfaser – which is due to start at the beginning of 2025 as part of the Gigabit Forum.