Broadband summit in Osterholz: Future of the fiber optic expansion in focus

Broadband summit in Osterholz: Future of the fiber optic expansion in focus

On Monday, November 3, decision-makers and specialists from politics, administration and telecommunications industry meet in the heart of Osterholz-Scharmbeck for the broadband summit. The organizing body, the Broadband Center Lower Saxony-Bremen, has set itself the goal of discussing the pressing questions about the topics related to fast fiber optic internet, the introduction of 5G and the transition from copper to fiber optic networks. [Weser Kurier] (https://www.weser-kurier.de/landkreis-osterholz/breitbandkiffel-osterholz-Scharmbeck-Glasfaser expansion-and-g-g-im-focus-doc80yma8vh3o510x8d5lvb reports that the EU plans to switch off the old telephone lines in the next five years. A step that is almost unavoidable in Germany, although there are still a few hurdles.

In order to switch off the copper lines, enough households must first switch to fiber optic. Network operators such as Deutsche Telekom are required to submit applications with schedules and conditions to switch off the outdated copper networks. In its current impulse paper, the Federal Network Agency emphasizes that the way to complete fiber optic incructure not only needs to be designed, but also planned Federal Network Agency.

fiber optic rate in the Osterholz district

The development in the Osterholz district shows a gratifying picture: the fiber optic rate rose from 35 % in 2022 to 48 %. This number is above the national average of almost 40 %, but below the Lower Saxony state value of 63 %. Especially with regard to the fast internet access, every seventh household is there without a speed of at least 100 megabits per second. The deficits are clearly noticeable in parts of the municipality of Worpswede and the Samtgemeinde Hambergen [Weser KURIER] (https://www.weserkurier.de/landkreis-osterholz/breitbandzfkfel-osterholz-scharbeck-Glasfaser expansion-and-g-im-focus-doc80yma8vh3o510x8d5lvb).

The need for fast internet is increasingly greater not only through the private sector, but also through the progressive digitization of our society. By the end of 2024, Telekom and other network operators want to supply around 47 % of households and corporate locations in Germany with fiber optic connections. These ambitions are necessary to remain competitive in an increasingly digitized world and to ensure the quality of life of the citizens. According to Glasfaser Internet, however, the current connection quota in Germany is only between 23 % and 32 %.

The challenge of the copper network transition

The conversion from copper to fiber optics also requires that old technologies are switched off step by step. The demand for copper connections has now declined, which leads to the realization that the continued operation becomes unprofitable and a forced migration strategy is necessary. The exchange between the market participants, which is intensified by the Federal Network Agency, is all the more important. For this purpose, they have launched various pilot projects in the Gigabitforum, which should serve as the basis for future migrations.

If you look into the future, Germany has made progress in fiber optic expansion, but remains behind the EU average. Despite the high expansion, which is in principle given by the good will, the question arises whether the citizens find the advantages of the fiber optic connection and willingly get involved in the new technologies. Telekom has communicated large-scale plans by 2030, but the implementation and the actual interest of consumers are decisive glass fiber internet.

In this exciting and diverse environment, the broadband summit in Osterholz-Scharmbeck will be an important milestone to set the course for the digital future and to further promote the interests of citizens in fast internet connections.