On 31 August 2025, the consultation period for the extension of the amendment to the Telecommunications Act ended, and with it the opportunity to officially comment on the key points. eco – Association of the Internet Industry sees the key points of the German Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs (BMDS) as important impetus for the expansion of fibre optics and mobile communications in Germany. eco particularly welcomes the early consultation with the industry and the planned establishment of digital, standardised procedures.
The decisive factor now is to design the scope for action in a practical manner in order to create planning and investment security while ensuring fair competition. Klaus Landefeld, Vice Chair of the eco Board, says: ‘With these key points, the BMDS is setting the right course for accelerated network expansion.’ The task now is to consistently digitise the procedures and remove bureaucratic hurdles. After all, network expansion needs a stable foundation – not a sandcastle that collapses at the first wave.”
Right to full expansion?
The assessment focuses on several key areas: For approvals, the association is calling for standardised digital application procedures nationwide and a central interface for construction site data. For internal building Internet, the proposed fibre optic provision fee is generally reasonable, but should not lead to excessive bureaucracy or cost burdens for tenants; eco proposes practical transitional models for existing buildings. A right to full expansion could make expansion more efficient, but must be accompanied by clear rules and sanctions to ensure that investments are actually implemented. On the subject of the ‘“corporate clause”’, eco warns that access for affiliated companies should only be possible under strict non-discrimination conditions in order to prevent market foreclosure.
The association also sees an urgent need for action in the approval process: the notification procedure should be established as the norm, accompanied by safeguards. At the same time, deadlines must be clearly and bindingly defined and a nationwide uniform digital one-stop-shop platform must be created. In addition, eco advocates further acceleration measures – such as priority power connections for mobile phone masts, the systematic use of public property and data minimisation in handling sensitive information in the gigabit land register.
‘The BMDS’s key points send important signals. The crucial thing now is to simplify procedures, reduce planning risks and accelerate the expansion of digital infrastructures,’ says Landefeld, looking to the future.
