13 Aug. 100 Days of the Federal Government: Keeping Digitalisation on Track – with Competition as a Strong Foundation
Berlin, 13. August 2025. For the first time, a German federal government has made digitalisation a top priority by creating an independent Ministry for Digital Affairs. It’s a move the industry has been demanding for years. In recent weeks, Dr Karsten Wildberger, the first Federal Digital Minister, has shown that fast progress is possible. At last, the long-overdue recognition of digital infrastructure as a key public priority is finally happening.
“Dr Wildberger has brought a fresh approach to digitalisation, backed by business experience and a clear determination to make things happen,” emphasises VATM President Valentina Daiber. For an industry that has spent years fighting for better infrastructure, it’s a good sign that politics is finally starting to take an action.
Reducing bureaucracy and more action are urgently needed
More acceleration measures have been introduced in the TKG amendment paper, which is expected to be approved by year-end. The federal-state acceleration pact must go beyond words and be put into practice. Aligning regulations and procedures between federal and state governments is an important step to speed up digitalisation.
“We definitely need less federalism and more coordination in digitalisation, where it makes sense,” says Daiber. “At the federal, state and local levels, nationwide uniform standards must apply, and solutions should be found based on the ‘one-for-all’ principle.”
Competition as the foundation of digitalisation
One of the major challenges in the coming months and years, which the ministry must closely oversee, is the nationwide switch-off of the old copper network and providing fibre optic access to all citizens. This can only succeed with a well-functioning, fair, and innovation-driven competition in the telecommunications market.
“Competition guarantees innovation and investment, as well as fair prices and nationwide coverage,” adds VATM Vice President Wolfram Rinner. “The success story of mobile communications in Germany demonstrates what competition can achieve. That’s why we need a clear political commitment to firmly establish competition as the foundation in the fixed-line sector as well.”
The VATM is calling on the federal government to take decisive action on ten key points to ensure that progress continues:
- Simplifying administrative structures and easing the burden on businesses: through increased digitalisation of processes and more efficient public administration, support companies that are struggling with regulatory pressures during a phase of high investment.
- The state as a digital frontrunner: consistent digitisation of all government services to raise citizens‘ awareness of the importance of digitisation and stimulate demand for fibre optics and 5G.
- Further development of mobile network expansion: the rollout of 5G in Germany has been a success. To ensure it stays that way, efficient and rapid access to new sites is essential, along with affordable and quickly available power connections for new mobile sites, as well as solutions for self-sufficient energy supply.
- Fair-market migration from DSL networks: this is the greatest opportunity to create a stronger telecommunications market with more competition among providers and services. In managing the copper-to-fibre migration, the federal government and the Federal Network Agency must ensure transparent and fair guidelines and guarantee their enforcement.
- Strengthening the role of the Federal Network Agency: the federal government must ensure that the Federal Network Agency consistently fulfils its role as the guardian of competition. Access to the network of the still dominant Deutsche Telekom must be made more effective.
- Protecting competition at the EU level: Germany needs to take an active role in Brussels to secure fair competitive conditions for German telecommunications companies and maintain a consistent pro-competition position. This requires an effective regulatory framework that limits market dominance and prevents its misuse.
- Practical support for fixed-line and mobile networks: funding must reach where it delivers the greatest benefit — efficiently, without bureaucracy, and market-oriented. Commercial expansion potential must not be restricted by public funding.
- Redefining the goal for fibre expansion: the focus must be on “Homes Connected,” since only a fibre connection all the way to the home or apartment ensures digitalisation that’s fit for the future.
- Ensuring competitive expansion in apartment buildings through close collaboration with the housing sector. We need a comprehensive development of both connection and building networks with open access to encourage more provider diversity and competition on the networks.
- Stable electricity prices for the telecom sector: telecommunications networks are critical infrastructure. As agreed in the coalition agreement, reliable and affordable energy prices must be ensured in the long term.
Positioning the Digital Ministry as the driving force
“The first 100 days show that the Digital Ministry and its new leadership have established a central anchor. Now the challenge is to make this ministry the true pace-setter of the digital transformation — equipped with sufficient resources and a political mandate to coordinate across departmental boundaries,” Daiber and Rinner agree. The VATM is ready to actively support this process with its industry expertise.
