BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - To accelerate the expansion of fiber-optic networks, the German cabinet has initiated a reform of the Telecommunications Act. The new regulations, which still require approval from the Bundestag and Bundesrat, are designed to reduce bureaucracy and simplify procedures, according to the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs.
Wildberger: 'Fiber to every home'
In the digital age, fast and stable internet is a prerequisite for economic growth and social prosperity, said Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU). The reform bundles a variety of targeted measures 'to bring fiber into every building and every apartment'.
Currently, fiber optics often end at the building's exterior. The new regulations are intended to grant telecommunications companies a so-called right to full expansion against building owners. If fiber is already present at the site but the internal infrastructure is missing, providers should be allowed to install the corresponding cabling. Alternatively, building owners can opt to handle the internal fiber-optic cabling themselves within a specified period.
Faster approval processes
Furthermore, procedures for large-scale fiber deployment are to be accelerated through shorter approval deadlines and the possibility for construction companies to begin work earlier. In addition, railway companies may be required to cooperate in the expansion of high-speed wireless networks along rail lines./jr/DP/stk
