We finally need more speed in the approval process for infrastructure projects. We therefore welcome the agreement between the federal and state governments to tackle this issue as a priority. The pact contains important approaches to simplify and digitalize the approval process for fibre optic expansion. However, it is crucial that this is also implemented consistently.

The regional committee of the German Broadband Communications Association (BREKO) has a new chairperson: Sabrina-Maria Geißler, Managing Director of wittenberg-net, is taking over the leadership of the umbrella committee of the ten BREKO regional groups from the long-standing chairwoman Ulla Meixner, Head of Telecommunications at Stadtwerke Flensburg.

The study shows that the strategic dual expansion and also pure dual expansion announcements by Telekom pose a major problem for the further successful expansion of fiber optics in Germany. Germany cannot afford to wait and hesitate on this issue, which is crucial for achieving the expansion targets, in view of the many companies and investors willing to expand. We expect the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport to take concrete measures immediately on the basis of these findings in order to stop Telekom's strategic double expansion activities.

The fact that the total number of funding applications exceeds the available funds by 50 percent confirms our fears that the federal government's gigabit funding program will not work in its current form.

BREKO supports the aim of the "Digital Networks Act" to improve the framework conditions for even more investment in fiber optic expansion. However, this does not fit in with the fact that the EU Commission itself caused considerable uncertainty among fiber optic investors with its draft for a Gigabit Infrastructure Act this year by proposing regulations that would facilitate the strategic dual expansion of fiber optic networks.

On Wednesday in Leipzig, the Saxony Fiber Optic Forum brought together all relevant players involved in fiber optic expansion in the Free State for the first time. At the joint event organized by the German Broadband Association (BREKO) and Leipziger Messe as part of the netze:ON trade fair, more than 70 participants from the telecommunications industry, federal, state and local politics discussed how competition in the fibre optic market can be sensibly shaped, what is necessary for gigabit funding to meaningfully complement the roll-out of self-sufficient networks and where companies, municipalities, districts and the state can improve their exchange with each other in order to make fibre optics available nationwide by 2030.

In its current version, the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA) would promote the strategic double expansion of fibre optic networks and jeopardize the expansion targets of the German government. To prevent the GIA from becoming a brake on expansion, BREKO appeals to the members of the European Parliament to reject the current draft in the committee meeting on September 19 and to make improvements to key points. BREKO also expects the German Federal Government, together with other states, to take a clear position in the European Council and demand changes.

BREKO welcomes the fact that the Federal Network Agency intends to strengthen competition in mobile communications for the benefit of both consumers and business customers as part of the planned extension of existing usage rights for mobile frequencies, which expire at the end of 2025. In order to sustainably strengthen competition in mobile communications and increase the variety of offers, an obligation to offer - a so-called service provider obligation - is absolutely necessary. The current obligation to negotiate has proven to be ineffective, as demonstrated by the dominance of the three established network operators in the 5G market.

- Fibre optic coverage in Germany at 35.6% in mid-2023 - Deutsche Telekom's competitors are investing more than ever in Germany's digitalization with EUR 8.4 billion. - Double expansion by Deutsche Telekom jeopardizes the federal government's fibre optic targets: reported cases in more than 220 municipalities - Schleswig-Holstein remains the frontrunner in a state comparison. Brandenburg with largest increase in fiber optic connections

The draft law is an important step towards even faster fiber optic and mobile expansion in Germany because it can help to remove existing hurdles, particularly in the area of approval procedures. However, some adjustments are still necessary in order to exploit the potential for acceleration.