For the transition to fiber, the Network Agency is proposing fixed deadlines. For example, the marketing of copper-based internet connections should end at least 24 months before the shutdown. Another prerequisite for discontinuing the copper network is that competitors must be granted non-discriminatory access to the new fiber networks ("Open Access"). At the time of the final shutdown, a basically nationwide fiber supply must be ensured. Agency head Klaus Müller described the transition as a "future-oriented internet upgrade for Germany." Consumers, he said, must be informed at an early stage and be able to choose between different providers in the fiber world as well.
According to the agency, implementing the concept will require changes to existing laws. At the same time, it called on the federal government to develop a unified plan for the copper/fiber migration, which should include not only the start and end points but also milestones. Telecommunications companies operating in Germany can submit their comments on the agency's concept until March 16.
According to the industry association Breko, around 27 percent of German households, businesses, and public institutions were connected to the fiber network by mid-2025. However, the rates vary significantly by region. One reason for the comparatively low acceptance is that connecting a building to the fiber network requires the owner's consent. The costs of switching present another hurdle. According to experts, the higher speeds of the new connections are usually only a secondary consideration for end consumers.
(Report by Hakan Ersen, edited by Myria Mildenberger. For questions, please contact our editorial team at berlin.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and economic affairs) or frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets).
