Joint Statement: Europe needs a clear and predictable path from copper to fibre
Brussels, 30 September 2026 – Nineteen European associations and organisations from the municipal, business, energy, digital, and infrastructure sectors have organised a joint call for a timely and investment-friendly framework for Europe’s copper switch-off.
The Joint Statement includes concrete proposals for a clear and practical transition from copper to full fibre within the Digital Networks Act (DNA). The copper switch-off is more than retiring legacy infrastructure. The transition to fibre is a strategic step towards the high-capacity, resilient and future-proof connectivity Europe needs for its digital economy, technological sovereignty and competitiveness.
The DNA is an important opportunity to set a clear direction for this transition. The signatories call on European policymakers to establish an objective, rule-based copper switch-off framework and to develop the technical details for its implementation at an early stage. The switch-off process should be triggered by the availability of fibre infrastructure and include an ambitious threshold of homes passed.
A well-managed transition must take account of consumers and all market participants. At the same time, any delays prolong the parallel operation of copper and fibre networks and weaken the investment certainty needed for further fibre deployment. The transition from copper to fibre is not simply a question of technology, but also of timing, predictability and investment conditions.
With their Joint Statement, the associations contribute concrete proposals to the European policy debate and underline the wider significance of the transition as strategic infrastructure for Europe’s digital future.
Read the full Joint Statement here.
The 19 signees are: Federal Association for Broadband Communication (BREKO), German Association of Local Public Utilities (VKU), German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), Swedish Local Fibre Alliance, Fibre Alliance Denmark, The Broadband Association (ANGA), ALTO – Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators, German Association of Public Services – German section of CEEP e.V. (bvöd), CEDEC – European Federation of Local & Regional Energy Companies, The German County Association (DLT), Der Mittelstand. BVMW, European Entrepreneurs CEA-PME, FNCCR, Macquarie Group, Open Fiber, Association of Austrian Municipalities, SGI Europe and VÖWG & VKÖ.
Contacts for this press release are:
The Federal Association for Broadband Communication (BREKO)
Lea Köster | E-Mail: presse@brekoverband.de
Phone: +49 176 300 209 48
German Association of Local Public Utilities (VKU)
Kathrin Mohr| E-Mail: mohr@vku.de
Phone: +49 30 58580-227 | +49 170 8580-227
German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW)
Adrian Röhrig | E-Mail: presse@bdew.de
Phone: +49 30 300199-1176
Swedish Local Fibre Alliance
Louise Thorselius | E-Mail: louise.thorselius@stadsnatsforeningen.se
Phone: +46 76110 02 88
Fibre Alliance Denmark
Morten Baadsgaard Trolle | E-Mail: MOB@greenpowerdenmark.dk
Phone: +45 22 75 04 18
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.
