08 Sep. Study shows: Cooperation and open access are key to the success of fiber-optic expansion in Germany – Exclusive Telekom strategy endangers competition
Cologne, 8 September 2025. Germany still has a long way to go in expanding its fibre optic network. The problem isn’t a lack of investment, but rather that existing networks are not being used enough. A new study by SBR-net Consulting AG, commissioned by VATM and presented today under the title „Network Usage Models in Germany: Status and Potential for the Fibre Optic Market“, makes this clear.
To speed up fibre rollout, the study calls for open access models that allow more provider diversity on new digital networks. The authors see growing cooperation between network operators and service providers as a positive sign. However, they criticise Telekom’s focus on exclusivity, saying it limits competition and risks bringing back monopolies.
“Fibre optic expansion will only become economically and socially worthwhile when consumers actively take advantage of it,” says Dirk Pasternack, VATM Presidium member and Managing Director of vitroconnect. “The key to this is having a wide range of services and providers on the new networks. Only functioning open access models can guarantee this diversity.
The study clearly outlines the benefits of open access models:
∙ Higher utilisation of FTTH networks, making expansion more economically sustainable,
∙ Avoiding duplicate network builds and encouraging fair competition,
∙ More efficient use of resources through coordinated business strategies,
∙ Greater choice and competition for end customers,
∙ Platforms as a key success factor by lowering transaction costs through standardization.
To make sure Germany doesn’t fall behind again in fibre optic rollout, open networks are essential,” says Dr Ernst-Olav Ruhle, CEO of SBR-net Consulting and author of the study. “The key to this is using platforms that serve as neutral, standardised interfaces between network operators and service providers. They help reduce transaction costs and support efficient network marketing.
In a fragmented market with many regional networks, platform solutions are essential. Today, many infrastructure operators already offer services either directly one-to-one or through platforms that boost competition and greatly improve network usage.
“Network usage models must not be undermined by exclusive contract arrangements,” warns Ruhle. The study shows that Telekom relies on exclusive leasing models. It takes over entire fibre optic networks from regional infrastructure providers for the long term but does not open passive access in its own network to competitors. This way, Telekom controls construction, operation, and marketing. “If wholesale products are not offered openly and without discrimination, fibre networks will largely remain unused,” the study’s author cautions.
Nationwide fibre optic coverage in Germany is increasingly being advanced through cooperation, especially among competing providers. This collaboration gives customers the freedom to choose their providers, while competition on the networks drives attractive prices and sparks product innovation. Clear regulatory support from the Federal Network Agency is also essential to ensure fair and effective access to the network of Germany’s largest provider, Deutsche Telekom, and to preserve market diversity. The study further concludes that binding open-access models for all network operators, encouragement of platform solutions, and a ban on exclusive long-term contracts that exclude alternative providers are crucial for a successful migration from copper to fibre.
