Impetus for discussion on the regulated migration from copper to fibre networks
Year of issue 2025
Date of issue 2025.04.28
The Bundesnetzagentur has today published a discussion paper on the switch from copper to fibre networks. All market participants are invited to comment on this key issue for the telecommunications market.
"This discussion paper on the copper to fibre migration provides early guidance and increases planning certainty for the market,"
said Klaus Müller, President of the Bundesnetzagentur. "We're focusing our attention particularly on the promotion of competition and the interests of consumers."
Creating transparency and increasing planning certainty
The discussion paper contains information and questions on the application of the German legal framework for the migration from legacy telecommunications infrastructure to more powerful, future-oriented networks. It is designed to provide an impetus for public discussion about the forthcoming transition from copper to fibre.
The entire telecommunications market is affected by the gradual copper to fibre migration. The Bundesnetzagentur wants the discussion paper to support dialogue among network operators to explore the potential for market solutions with the aim of ensuring the smoothest possible transition to new networks.
The paper addresses issues including schedules for transitioning away from the copper networks, the requirements for alternative access products and possible distributions of migration costs.
It provides a jumping-off point for discussion. Stakeholders have the opportunity to respond until 23 June. The Bundesnetzagentur will make specific, individual decisions as soon as migration requests are submitted.
Other activities related to the copper to fibre migration
Three pilot projects related to the copper to fibre migration were conducted last year as part of the "Gigabitforum". The principal areas of action that came out of the evaluation of the pilots will be pursued in the Gigabitforum. These relate in particular to the practical cooperation of the various parties in the technical implementation of the migration, the acceleration of the rollout and communication with customers.
The discussion paper (in German) and further information can be found here: www.bundesnetzagentur.de/1058028.