Broadband summit in Osterholz: Fiber optics and 5G are crucial for the future!

Broadband summit in Osterholz: Fiber optics and 5G are crucial for the future!

On Monday, November 3rd, an important broadband summit dedicated entirely to digital infrastructure will take place in Osterholz-Scharmbeck. This all-day industry conference is aimed at decision-makers and experts from politics, administration and the telecommunications sector. There will be space for specialist lectures, practical examples and lively panel debates. A key issue will be the migration from copper to fiber networks, as the EU plans to switch off old telephone lines within the next five years. The Weser-Kurier reports that this process is progressing more slowly in Germany than the EU intends.

In the current situation, enough households need to switch to fiber before the copper shutdowns can actually be implemented. This means that telecommunications companies must submit an application to the Federal Network Agency outlining the schedules, conditions and alternative access options. However, the federal government has set itself the goal of accelerating network expansion. The fiber optic ratio in the Osterholz district is currently 48%, which is an increase from 35% in 2022. Nevertheless, one in seven households in the district does not have an Internet connection that offers at least 100 megabits per second.

Fiber optic expansion and challenges

A look at the current situation in Germany shows that, according to the Bundesnetzagentur's impulse paper, around 47% of households and company locations should be supplied with fiber optic connections by the end of 2024. Currently, the majority of demand comes via existing copper and TV cable networks, which are becoming increasingly unprofitable and will have to be switched off in the future.

A voluntary switch to fiber optic connections has already begun, and the Federal Network Agency plans to protect migrants and maintain competition during the transition process. The deadline for comments on the new guidelines is June 23, 2025. It is expected that more than 50% of households will be connected to fiber by 2025, but for professional reasons this could be hampered by bankruptcies and other practical problems.

Government vision and expansion strategy

With the new federal government taking office on May 22, 2025, a breath of fresh air will come into the digital infrastructure. Fiber optic expansion is at the top of the agenda and is anchored in the coalition agreement as a central element of the digital strategy. A separate digital ministry should advance digitalization more quickly. Comprehensive fiber optic expansion by the early 2030s is considered to be of paramount public interest, which accelerates the approval process for telecommunications projects.

The BBH reports that fiber optic expansion is to be promoted through a planned acceleration law. An orderly copper switch-off is planned, which emphasizes consumer friendliness and competitiveness. The experiences from pilot projects in the Federal Network Agency's Gigabit Forum will continue to be followed in order to optimize the migration process.

The developments surrounding the digital infrastructure are crucial in order to ensure that Germany is not left behind in the global competitive environment. The broadband summit in Osterholz is an important step to address the upcoming challenges and the need for rapid expansion and to develop solutions that benefit all citizens.