As of: February 13, 2024, 7:03 p.m
By: Marcus Giebel, Sandra Sporer
Comments
Press
Split
There are over 24 million DSL connections in Germany.
We are currently working towards shutting down the network.
When is the shutdown due?
Berlin – Just a few years ago it was said that fiberglass was not needed on every milk can.
However, the traffic light government is now planning to end DSL Internet.
According to the gigabit strategy presented in the summer of 2022, there will be a nationwide switch to fiber optic technology.
The Ministry of Transport, which is also responsible for digital matters, is aiming for nationwide coverage.
Complete fiber optic expansion in Germany by 2030 - the DSL network will then be shut down
The switch to modern fiber optic networks should be completed for all citizens and companies by 2030.
The first milestone is to equip half of all households and companies with the necessary connections by the end of 2025.
The expansion is mainly carried out by the private sector, without government funding and based on business decisions.
Telekom has already accelerated its fiber optic expansion.
The realignment is justified by the increasing demand for higher services in the fixed network.
In addition, fiber optic access is essential for the most modern and high-performance mobile networks.
They guarantee high transmission rates and network control for 5G applications.
In addition, fiberglass is more environmentally friendly because the CO2 footprint is significantly lower compared to older technologies.
New, innovative applications could also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Germany wants to say goodbye to the copper networks of the DSL Internet as quickly as possible and switch completely to fiber optics.
However, there is still a long way to go here.
© Bernd Feil/MiS/IMAGO
End of copper networks – the option of above-ground lines is on the table
The changeover should also take the environment and nature into account.
The transition from copper to fiber optic networks should be “quick, competitive, consumer-friendly and ecologically sustainable”.
The property rights, for example of building owners or the housing industry, are also taken into account.
Based on the experiences of other countries, fiber optic expansion should take place above ground, especially in sparsely populated areas.
Time and costs can be saved by using existing infrastructure such as overhead lines or wooden masts from Deutsche Telekom.
This could reduce the expansion costs per connectable household by 70 to 80 percent.
Network operators and investors have announced that they will invest 50 billion euros in fiber optic expansion over the next few years, according to the Ministry of Transport.
How expensive the project will ultimately be and how quickly it can be implemented remains to be seen.
The fiber optic industry itself is also struggling with some problems.
My news
Supermarket notice threatens customers with a ban from the premises if they exceed the relatively low deposit limit
Something must have happened: Embittered Penny team hangs out a clear note
dm is turning branches inside out: what changes consumers have to adapt to read
Driver shares photo: Puzzle about traffic light signs – “What does this K mean?” read
“I'm really on the verge of despair”: Woman (29) wants to move back into a shared apartment - because she has no choice
Change in the general inspection: Drivers will soon have to dig deeper into their pockets
Pilot project in three areas: Citizens only have the option of a fiber optic connection
In any case, Germany is currently lagging behind other countries.
The Gigabit Strategy cites France and Sweden as examples where the transition to fiber optic networks and the shutdown of copper networks are already more advanced.
In France, the telecommunications company Orange, formerly France Telecom, plans to end copper networks in 2030.
The timing for the final changeover in Germany is still unclear.
However, the first test run has already begun.
The Federal Network Agency's Gigabit Forum mentions a pilot project that was started on February 1st and relates to Deutsche Telekom's fiber optic network.
In three limited test areas in the cities of Wiesbaden and Bad Salzungen, citizens no longer have a choice between copper and fiber optic networks.
Around 700 households and companies are involved.
Germany is currently lagging behind when it comes to fiber optic expansion.
It is unclear when a final farewell to DSL Internet will be possible.
© Thorsten Gutschalk/IMAGO
Experts name 2032 as a possible date for the end of DSL Internet
The Scientific Institute for Infrastructure and Communication Services (WIK) points out that there are regulatory requirements for network operators such as long notice periods of up to five years when it comes to switching off copper-based main distribution locations.
Significant benefits could be achieved by switching off overlapping copper networks.
Operators could then expect lower operating costs and improved profitability for fiber rollouts, while customers could benefit from improved quality of service.
Andreas Salacki, Senior Vice President Planning and Operations for Access Networks at Deutsche Telekom, regrets “that today not every customer books and orders the new technology, i.e. the fiber optic product”.
However, he emphasizes that there is no risk of suddenly finding yourself without a network during the changeover.
“In terms of service and usability, everything is the same,” he says, adding: “Only the cable changes: copper today, fiber optic tomorrow.
The services and the service, the product itself, remain identical.”
According to the teltarif
portal, Ralph Steffens, Co-Chief Executive Officer of the fiber optic network operator DNS, advocated
setting a fixed date for switching off the copper networks at the annual meeting of the Federal Broadband Communications Association (BREKO) at the end of last year.
He considers the year 2032 to be realistic, but speaks of a “huge task”.
Even in large cities, there is no guarantee of a fast data connection.
An experiment showed holes in the internet supply in Munich.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked.
Find out more about our AI principles here.