Deutsche Telekom Registers 10 Million Potential Fiber Customers
3 Min. reading time
More than ten million households already have access to their own fiber network, says Deutsche Telekom. Far fewer are actually connected. Providers in other EU countries are therefore already signing DSL contracts to force potential fiber customers into their broadband offerings.
The majority of Germans still surf and stream over copper‑based DSL connections. According to the federal government’s plans, which align with EU targets, all households and businesses should have access to fast fiber by 2030.
Deutsche Telekom has now announced a first major milestone on that path. By the end of 2024, 10.1 million German households already had access to its own fiber network – 2.2 million more than in 2023, as ChannelPartner reports. “We are rolling out fiber as fast as we can,” the trade magazine quotes Telekom CEO Tim Höttges as saying.
Most connections sit idle
The possibility of joining Telekom’s fiber network and actually using it is still far from uniform. The numbers quoted by Telekom refer to “Homes Passed” – the cables that are already in the ground, many of which are still waiting to reach a house or apartment.
When it comes to fiber‑network connection levels, the following distinctions apply:
- FTTN/C/S means the cables reach the neighbourhood, the curb, or the street.
- FTTdp stands for Fibre to the distribution point, i.e., to the pole or cable duct on the street.
- FTTB means the fiber cables reach the basement or the building.
- FTTH stands for Fibre to the Home and indicates that the fiber connection reaches the living spaces.
- FTTL means Fibre to the Loop or to the individual subscriber.
- FTTD stands for Fibre to the Desk, i.e., to the office workstation.
The number of activated Fibre‑to‑the‑Home (FTTH) connections for Deutsche Telekom is only 1.5 million users, about 15 percent. Höttges expects this to rise to “well over 20 percent.”p
Price is usually the sticking point
The hopefuls are the new customers, because those already on the network often still decline fiber optics gratefully. The number of new sign‑ups has risen sharply from quarter to quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2023, 88 000 new customers were added, a year later already 134 000.
As ChannelPartner continues, the Telekom rival Deutsche Glasfaser has grown in Germany from roughly 400 000 to 2.4 million households and has already been able to connect 40 percent of them. The main reason many customers still shy away from fiber‑optic offers, despite the promised fast, stable internet connections, is the price. Vodafone’s list price for cable TV including a gigabit download per second is 45 Euro per month before any discounts, clearly cheaper than the 70 Euro that Telekom charges for its gigabit FTTH tariff. However, the group does not want to give anything away, says CFO Christian P. Illek. The prices are attractive and sometimes well below those in the USA.
“According to the federal government’s plans, in line with the EU’s, all households and businesses should have access to the fast fiber network by 2030.”
No EU Mandate in Sight
Running copper and fiber cables in parallel is currently uneconomical. Since fiber is the superior technology, some countries such as Denmark, Sweden and France have already made significant progress in shutting down copper networks. Orange S.A., the largest French telecommunications company, has moved its shutdown deadline up to 2030.
Germany still has no concrete shutdown plans. Vodafone Germany CEO Marcel de Groot, however, has said a clear roadmap for the end of copper cables is needed to meet the federal government’s gigabit targets.
The EU Council is advocating a phased copper‑network shutdown, taking into account the specific circumstances of member states, competition and consumer welfare. In other words, a Europe‑wide shutdown by 2030 is unlikely.
The German Broadband Association (BREKO) commented: “We welcome the Council’s clear rejection of the unrealistic demand for a single EU‑wide final shutdown date for copper networks and its emphasis on a consumer‑ and competition‑friendly transition from copper to fiber.”
For providers, DSL remains the core business, as the almost unchanged figure of 24 million households over the past ten years shows. Deutsche Telekom estimates it will take another five to seven years before it has more FTTH than DSL customers. Besides regulatory pressure, financial incentives may be needed to spur the switch. Some local operators are already offering much lower prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many households had access to Deutsche Telekom’s fiber network at the end of 2024?
At the end of 2024, 10.1 million households had access to Deutsche Telekom’s fiber network, 2.2 million more than the year before.
What does the term “Homes Passed” mean in the context of fiber rollout?
“Homes Passed” refers to the number of buildings where fiber cables have been laid past. It does not mean the connections are already active.
What share of active FTTH connections does Deutsche Telekom have?
Of the 10.1 million covered households, 1.5 million use FTTH, representing a 15 percent share.
Why do many existing customers hesitate to switch to fiber?
Price is the main reason. Telekom FTTH tariffs cost €70 per month, considerably more than comparable cable offers at €45.
Are there concrete plans in Germany to shut down copper networks?
No, there are currently no specific shutdown plans for copper networks in Germany. The EU calls for a phased transition, not uniform deadlines.
Editorial Reading Tips
- Funding slows down SMEs: Why doing it simply is faster
- Managed Services: Why SMEs outsource IT instead of building it
- NIS2 implementation: What SMEs still need to do
More from the MBF Media Network
cloudmagazin | SecurityToday | Digital Chiefs
Source cover image: Adobe Stock / Viks_jin
