Federal Digital Ministry: Every Second Household Has Fiber Optic Access

Demand Lags Behind Availability

Wildberger announced his intention to further accelerate the expansion. A planned reform of the Telecommunications Act includes, among other things, simplifications in approval procedures and expanded rights for telecommunications providers to lay connections in apartments. This is intended to reduce bureaucratic hurdles in the expansion.

According to its own statements, the industry association VATM expects that by the end of the year, fiber optic cables could reach around 32 million households and businesses. The industry, as represented by the association, also sees itself confronted with a difficult economic situation. High construction costs and low revenues make the market "tense," as the association announced.

Industry Struggles with Costs

A central problem remains the gap between availability and actual usage. Even where fiber optics are technically available, many consumers are foregoing a tariff change. The federal government hopes that the announced reform will encourage more households to switch to fiber optic lines.

Overall, according to the ministry, the expansion is proceeding faster than in earlier phases. The increase of six percentage points within six months represents the strongest half-year growth recorded in a long time. If the pace continues, the 50 percent mark for availability could be surpassed this year.

Expansion in Rural Regions

Observers see the development as proof that the expansion has gained momentum through targeted funding programs and private sector investments. At the same time, they point out that rural regions continue to be less well-supplied than urban areas. Therefore, comprehensive coverage remains a challenge in the medium term.

The Federal Digital Ministry intends to support the expansion with additional measures. According to Wildberger, these include greater standardization of connections and faster approvals for civil engineering work. The goal is to significantly increase the proportion of households with fiber optic access in the coming years.

Background: Why Fiber Optics Matter

The demand for fast internet connections has continuously increased in recent years, not least due to home office, streaming, and cloud-based applications. Broad fiber optic coverage is considered a prerequisite for meeting future demands for data transmission and digital services.