Digitization in Germany: Höttges demands Turbo for fiber optic expansion!

Digitization in Germany: Höttges demands Turbo for fiber optic expansion!

Kloster Seeon, Deutschland - Timotheus Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, has vividly spoken out for a "real network expansion acceleration law". This requirement represents a central component of a 10-point continuation program for digitization of Germany, which Höttges presented during a visit to the CSU state group in the Bundestag in Seeon monastery. Currently, only 13 percent of households in Germany use fiber optic lines, which illustrates the need for action.

To promote digital investments, plans to introduce Höttges, special depreciation and tax relief. Due to changes in the market of copper -based VDSL, Deutsche Telekom has switched to fiber fiber with vectoring. A controversial draft law to accelerate the expansion of telecommunications networks should go through the Bundestag in November. After the traffic lights, there were mutual blame between digital politicians from the SPD, the Greens and the FDP to prevent the Initiative.

Digital Minister and Infrastructure

Another basis for discussion was the controversial classification of the expansion of telecommunications networks than in the "outstanding public interest". While industry associations demanded this prioritization, the Federal Government initially only wanted to give priority to closing radio clads. Höttges also welcomed the establishment of its own Department of Digital with the corresponding financial resources, since digital policy was previously assigned to the traffic department.

The telecom boss also emphasized that future technologies such as data centers, robots and artificial intelligence have to be promoted more intensively in order to promote Germany's re-industrialization. Further demands include a reduction in electricity prices for networks and data centers as well as the introduction of a digital ID for citizens to improve the e-government. In addition, e-health solutions and cyber security are to be brought into focus more quickly, supplemented by tax advantages for startups. In addition, international cooperation with leading digital nations is to be expanded through targeted tech partnerships.

As reported in the Federal Government's gigabit strategy, Germany has made progress in expanding digital infrastructures. In June 2024, fiber was already available for 35.7 percent of households, and in October 2024 93.2 percent of the area were supplied with 5G. Federal Minister Volker Wissing emphasizes the progress in fiber optic expansion and describes 5G cover as a success of the gigabit strategy. In order to further promote the expansion, 35 measures were announced, including the telecommunications network expansion acceleration law (TK-NABEG). In the year comparison, the availability of gigabitable fiber optic connections increased by 7.5 percentage points, so that more than 76 percent of households now have access to gigabit connections across technology.

The Federal Network Agency regularly charges the fixed network supply for over 375 telecommunications providers. The current data can be viewed in the broadband atlas of the Gigabit Basic and updated to the individual street.

More details are at Heise.de and bmdv.bund.de Available.

-transmitted by West-Ost-Medien