Overview

• Germany has entered the initial voluntary phase of its three-stage DSL shutdown plan, aiming for nationwide fiber-optic coverage by 2030.
• Only about 50% of German households currently have access to fiber, and just 26–29% of available connections are active.
• The Bundesnetzagentur is urging providers to offer more attractive fiber tariffs to encourage adoption, with some plans now cheaper and faster than DSL.
• Pilot projects and public consultations are underway to guide the transition, ensuring consumer protections like notification periods and compensation rights.
• Despite progress, rural areas and households with sub-10 Mbit/s speeds highlight persistent digital divide challenges in the migration effort.