Copper-to-fibre migration, the amendment to the Telecommunications Act, new infrastructure and Europe’s digital sovereignty: the new VATM Yearbook highlights the decisions facing policymakers, regulators and the industry.
The telecommunications market is facing decisions that will shape the future roll-out of fibre-optic networks as well as determining how new networks can give rise to a high-performing and competitive market. “A network on its own does not bring about change,” says VATM President Valentina Daiber. “What matters is whether it gives rise to new services, more productive companies, freedom of choice for customers and scope for innovation. Germany has built a great deal of infrastructure – now the more challenging phase begins: high-performance networks must be transformed into a high-performance digital market.”
The new VATM Yearbook 2026 brings together these and other key debates within an industry undergoing radical change. The guest contributions from the Federal Government, the Bundestag, European policy and regulatory bodies make it clear: the next phase of digitalisation requires not only further network expansion but also decisions on migration, competition, new technologies and the right political framework conditions.
On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernisation, State Secretary Dr Markus Richter emphasises the transition from copper to fibre-optic networks as a key lever: “The rule-based phase-out has great potential to accelerate fibre-optic roll-out.” At the same time, with regard to the amendment to the Telecommunications Act (TKG), the Ministry is focusing on simpler procedures, less bureaucracy and greater transparency for the migration to the fibre-optic era.
Comments from the German Bundestag illustrate just how extensive the practical to-do list remains. Dr Inge Gräßle, Member of the Bundestag, CDU/CSU parliamentary group, sees a further need for action, particularly regarding faster and simpler procedures for the roll-out of in-building networks in blocks of flats. Armand Zorn, Member of the Bundestag, SPD parliamentary group, addresses the industry’s concerns regarding concentrations of market power and a lack of electricity grid connections in the amendment to the Telecommunications Act.
Federal Minister for Research Dorothee Bär makes it clear that the infrastructure debate has long since extended beyond fibre-optic and mobile communications. Satellite communications as a potential complement to terrestrial networks – for the Minister, the future of communications is “hybrid, global and resilient”.
Digital sovereignty is decided, above all, in Brussels. Axel Voss MEP emphasises the role and importance of the cloud, AI, computing power, cyber security and energy supply. Europe must strengthen its own capabilities in these key areas and reduce strategic dependencies.
The President of the Federal Network Agency explains just how challenging the transition to the fibre-optic world will be. Klaus Müller describes the copper-to-fibre migration as the defining issue of the coming years and points to a structural imbalance as long as Deutsche Telekom continues to generate revenue from its copper network.
30 Years of the TKG: The Question of Competition Arises Anew
The academic papers on “30 Years of the TKG” demonstrate that many of these issues have been facing the industry for three decades. With the opening up of the market at that time, competition became the driving force behind falling prices, new services and new networks. Three decades later, Prof. Dr Thomas Fetzer, Prof. em. Dr Bernd Holznagel and Prof. Dr Jürgen Kühling discuss the role competition will play in the future world of fibre optics.
“At the heart of the yearbook are the more than 50 contributions from VATM member companies,” emphasises Daiber.
“They reflect market developments across the various segments and highlight where political and regulatory decisions have a direct impact on investment, business models and network roll-out.” The articles range from fibre-optic roll-out, open access and in-house networks, through business customers and mobile communications, to satellite communications, AI, digital services, security and resilience.
The VATM Yearbook 2026 (in german) is available to download from the VATM website: https://www.vatm.de/dokument/jahrbuch-2026/
Please feel free to take a look at the association’s relaunched website www.vatm.de. Here you will find the latest information and background knowledge on the telecoms market, such as position papers and studies – presented quickly, clearly and concisely.