Industry associations and Telekom sign Fair Play agreement for faster fiber-optic expansion

Background: Dispute over § 22a TKG

With this initiative, the associations are responding to plans by the federal government to more strictly regulate network access in the future by law (§ 22a TKG) and through the Federal Network Agency. The background is a dispute that has been simmering for years over whether competitors of Telekom should be allowed to use its lines under fair conditions, and whether municipal utilities are disadvantaged in fiber-optic expansion.

Telekom welcomed the agreement as a signal of greater reliability and speed in expansion. At the same time, the company emphasized that, from its perspective, legislative intervention under Section 22a of the Telecommunications Act (Telekommunikationsgesetz) remained necessary in order to safeguard investments in fiber-optic lines over the long term.

Positions of Telekom and the associations

From the perspective of the municipal utilities and competitor associations, the voluntary self-commitment is a first step, which, however, is not intended to relieve political pressure. Breko, BDEW, and VKU pointed out that if the agreement fails, regulatory measures via the Federal Network Agency would remain on the agenda.

The Digital Ministry welcomed the initiative. It sees it as confirmation that the industry itself is capable of finding pragmatic solutions for nationwide broadband expansion. At the same time, the ministry announced that it would closely monitor compliance with the Fair Play agreement.

Next steps

Observers interpret the agreement as an attempt to defuse the conflict over fiber-optic expansion before the Federal Network Agency initiates formal regulatory proceedings. A definitive assessment will only be possible, however, once concrete expansion figures and case studies from the regions become available.

The partners also agreed to establish a joint office in the coming months to mediate disputes between the parties involved. Regular reports on progress in fiber-optic expansion are also to be published.