Glass fiber expansion in Germany: great progress until 2030!

Glass fiber expansion in Germany: great progress until 2030!

In a meeting on March 29, 2025, District Administrator Michael Stickeln gave detailed insights into the current status of the fiber optic expansion in the region. He explained that the expansion takes place independently by the expanding companies, which means that municipalities have no influence on the number of areas to be expanded or the speed of the expansion. This regulation is clearly defined in the Telecommunications Services Act (TDLG) and applies nationwide. The focus is on the quick and comprehensive expansion of digital infrastructure.

The Federal Government's goal is to bring fiber optic connections to the house by 2030 and to make the 5G mobile phone standard available across the board. According to bundes- government.de , around 92 percent of Germany has currently been equipped by at least one network operator with 5G since 2023. In addition, gigabit connections are available for around 74 percent of households; Glass fiber connections can already reach almost every third household.

progress in network structure

The progress in the expansion of digital infrastructures was also highlighted by Federal Minister Volker Wissing. In June 2024, glass fiber was accessible for 35.7 percent of households, and the 5G cover rose to impressive 93.2 percent of the area until October 2024. This shows that the Federal Government's gigabit strategy is considered successful. The expansion is also accompanied by 35 further measures that aim to achieve the defined goals even faster.

A new bill to accelerate the expansion of telecommunications networks (TK-Nabeg) was also decided. The draft recognizes an outstanding public interest in the expansion, which means that approval procedures are shortened. This regulation is particularly useful in sub-supplied areas in which there is no access to 4G or 5G supply. In addition, consumers have had the option of reducing the monthly fee for their internet connection if the contractually agreed speeds are significantly below.

data transparency and future outlook

In order to improve the planning and coordination of the network expansion, a Gigabit Basic book is to be established as an information portal and data wrap. Data on over 375 telecommunications providers are published every six months by the Federal Network Agency and are accessible via the broadband atlas of the Gigabit Basic. This enables citizens to understand the supply except for the individual street.

Overall, the expansion of the digital infrastructure remains a central concern of the Union, which is to be promoted even more in the coming decade. The legislative measures are intended to ensure that Germany becomes fit for the digital future and the necessary prerequisites for a sustainable digital economy are created.