The two-day program of fiberdays 24 offers lectures, panel discussions, seminars and workshops on all the top topics of the fiber optic industry. Representatives from all well-known companies in the German telecommunications industry will talk to politicians and administrators about current strategic challenges, investments, sustainability, open access and much more.

Fiber optics is the future-proof network technology for transmitting large volumes of data reliably and quickly. But the networks also need content to show what they are capable of. The opportunities and challenges this presents for network operators, content providers and TV broadcasters will be the focus of this year's media hall at fiberdays 24 on 27 and 28 February in Wiesbaden.

After months of negotiations, the Gigabit Infrastructure Act has unfortunately ended as a lukewarm compromise that will not significantly facilitate the expansion of mobile and fiber optic networks in Europe. An additional investment hurdle that had been discussed in the meantime was only just prevented. However, hardly anything has remained of the positive approaches of previous drafts.

Protection against attacks on critical infrastructures is a core task for the state and the economy. The German Broadband Association (BREKO) has developed a concept for a decentralized infrastructure atlas (dISA) in order to meet the increased need for security on the one hand and the need for efficient data usage for the expansion of fiber optics and mobile communications on the other. The dISA is intended to make data exchange not only more secure, but also more efficient and up-to-date.

The experts' assessment misses the reality. The report paints a rosy picture of the mobile communications world. Even if a large number of sub-brands of the three established mobile network operators, such as Aldi Talk or Congstar, give the impression: there is currently no effective competition on the German mobile market, especially in the wholesale sector!

- Ticket sales launched for the leading trade fair for fibre optic expansion - Extensive congress program with top-class panel discussions - New key topics: Sustainability, diversity & municipal expansion - Exclusive kick-off event on "Sustainability & Energy Transition" for municipal utilities the day before - media hall: Leading congress for FAST Channels & TV of the future

In the coming weeks, a decisive course will be set in Brussels for the expansion of digital infrastructure in Germany and Europe. In view of the ongoing trilogue negotiations on the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA), the German Broadband Association (BREKO) and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) are calling for investment-friendly framework conditions for companies that promote the construction and operation of fiber optic networks.

The pace of fiber optic expansion in Germany has never been so fast. Fiber optic availability currently stands at 35%. The main drivers are Deutsche Telekom's competitors, who are responsible for around two thirds of the expansion. The large number of these alternative network operators has led to active competition and a high level of dynamism in the supply of fiber optic connections. This is the only way to keep the German government's goal of nationwide fiber optic coverage by 2030 within sight.

In view of the critical budget situation and a gigabit funding program that has been heavily oversubscribed again this year, the digital and telecommunications associations ANGA, Bitkom, BREKO, BUGLAS and VATM are calling on the German government to limit the gigabit funding for 2024-2026 to one billion euros per year and to use the funding in a more targeted manner. This would relieve the federal budget by a total of six billion euros without fewer new connections being built. The associations are calling for a revision of the funding program that does justice to the limited construction capacities available and prevents a renewed flood of applications as well as frustration among local authorities.

The Council of the European Union today approved a negotiating mandate ("general approach") for the upcoming trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission on the proposed Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA). BREKO welcomes the overarching goal of the GIA to accelerate the roll-out of fiber optics and reduce roll-out costs. While some of the measures proposed by the Council offer sufficient flexibility to take into account specific requirements of the Member States, other amendments appear less suitable for accelerating the roll-out of fiber optic networks.