A year ago, Volker Wissing presented the German government’s gigabit strategy. Much has been achieved since then and, since the beginning of July, the promise to enable an evaluation of the dual fiber optic expansion projects has been kept. In the digital strategy, the BMDV formulates the goal of supplying half of all households with fiber optics by the end of 2025 and even providing fiber optics and the latest mobile communications standard to every place where people live, work or travel by 2030.
The need to catch up relates in particular to rural areas. In order to make rapid progress here, the limited civil engineering capacities must also be used effectively. The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) have set up a monitoring office to record duplicate fibre-optic expansion projects in order to optimize the expansion. This is another central measure of the German government’s gigabit strategy. The monitoring body is aimed in particular at telecommunications companies carrying out the expansion and at local authorities and their authorities or decision-makers. However, other stakeholders can also contact the monitoring body. This is available here available here. By completing the survey form available there, the report becomes part of the comprehensive inventory of the BMDV and BNetzA.
Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency, comments on the monitoring body as follows: “We are currently experiencing dynamic competition in the expansion of fiber optic networks. Companies up and down the country are competing to supply customers. This is initially very good news. In the interests of consumers, the Federal Network Agency is ensuring equal opportunities for competition. This also and especially applies to the issue of dual expansion. With the monitoring body, we record and bundle cases from practice and create a solid basis for examining whether individual companies may be using methods that hinder competition, are abusive or unfair.”
Stefan Schnorr, State Secretary at the BMDV, adds: “The expansion of fiber optics is of outstanding importance for Germany. It is predominantly carried out by the private sector, on the basis of entrepreneurial decisions and in competition between companies. It is important that the expansion takes place fairly and in line with competition. To ensure this, we are conducting a comprehensive review together with the Federal Network Agency, as announced in the Federal Government’s gigabit strategy. The newly created monitoring body will play a central role in this.”
The expansion of fiber optics has picked up speed in Germany. However, one effect of this is the competition between rival companies for the same areas. This can lead to individual companies adjusting their expansion plans if a competitor seeks to expand in the same area. This raises the question of the extent to which practices are being used in the current expansion competition that may be anti-competitive, for example because they are aimed at deterring competitors and could therefore impair investments in fiber optic expansion, according to a BMDV press release.
The aim of monitoring is therefore to gain as precise an insight as possible into the planning and expansion processes on site. This allows the competitive situation to be reliably assessed and action to be taken as a result. In principle, free competition between telecommunications companies must be maintained. This is because the requirements for justifying state intervention in the market-based fiber optic expansion are high for good reason. However, monitoring can then provide well-founded arguments for possible conclusions.
One year of gigabit strategy – much has been achieved, but there is still a lot to do
Federal Minister Volker Wissing commented on the situation and gave an insight into the measures at the “One Year Gigabit Strategy” celebratory event. He said in Berlin: “With our gigabit strategy, we want to achieve the digital awakening for Germany. Working from home, streaming on the ICE and reception in a mountain hut must finally be possible without any problems. To achieve this, we need high-performance digital infrastructures everywhere, i.e. fiber to the home and the latest mobile communications standard. We are now creating the conditions to make the expansion faster and more efficient. For me, one thing is very clear: digital is better, because it creates more participation, more opportunities and more progress for everyone. We are tackling this now. Our goal for a modern Germany is clear: by 2030, we want fiber to the home and the latest mobile communications standard wherever people live, work or travel.”