Bonn/Berlin, 18.11.2022 The German Broadband Association (BREKO) comments as follows on the draft standard 18220 for trenching, milling and ploughing methods in fiber optic expansion published today by the German Institute for Standardization (DIN):

“The publication of the draft standard is an important step towards significantly greater use of modern laying methods. Trenching, milling and ploughing methods are a central building block for fast and efficient fiber optic expansion and thus also for achieving the German government’s expansion targets. In other European countries, trenching, milling and plowing methods have proven their worth for many years. The fact that we are now finally on the way to recognizing these laying methods as the standard construction method in Germany is a positive signal for all companies investing in fibre optic expansion.

Now that the standardization process has entered the home straight after intensive negotiations, a standard is expected to be available in spring 2023 that will be used by civil engineering companies and building authorities when approving and using modern installation methods. Whether DIN 18220 will actually help to speed up fiber optic expansion in the future depends not only on the specific content of the standard, but also to a large extent on the municipalities, which must take the new standard into account in their approval procedures as soon as possible and overcome existing reservations about modern installation methods. We also expect parts of the construction industry to finally give up their existing blockade attitude towards these installation methods and make their contribution to a fast, efficient and resource-saving expansion.

BREKO will use the objection period that is now beginning to examine together with its member companies whether the present DIN draft is practical enough to meet the objective of significantly increasing the use of modern installation methods, or whether corrections are necessary.

We are very critical of the ‘Code of practice for the use of trenching, milling and ploughing methods’ announced by the Road and Transportation Research Association (FGSV) in parallel with the publication of the DIN draft, as the recommendations contained therein contradict the aim of the DIN draft to facilitate the use of modern laying methods. This one-sided, interest-driven leaflet must not be allowed to become a brake on further fiber optic expansion by causing uncertainty in civil engineering offices. We therefore expect the federal states to formulate clear instructions on the application of DIN and against the FGSV leaflet.”