Germany is at a crossroads in its digital infrastructure journey. The federal government has declared fibre-optic network expansion to be of overriding public interest until 2030. Despite significant investments, fibre rollout is hindered by fragmented execution, overlapping jurisdictions, and competing incentives. The real challenge lies in fostering collaboration, not solving technical issues.
As of early 2025, approximately 40% of German households have fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connections. Urban areas enjoy competitive offerings from multiple providers. However, rural regions lag behind, highlighting structural challenges in planning, financing, and deploying infrastructure. The landscape is fragmented with numerous operators like BREKO, BUGLAS, and VATM building networks in overlapping territories. This competitive energy fuels innovation but leads to parallel efforts, underinvestment, and coordination failures, leading to delays and increased costs.
The need for collaboration is universally acknowledged. Despite this, meaningful cooperation is limited. Industry roundtables and policy forums emphasize coordination but fall short on implementation. While capital and technology are abundant, the real constraint is coordination. Effective collaboration requires trust mechanisms, governance structures, and economic incentives.
The critical question is how Germany can unlock collaborative infrastructure models that balance competition and public good. Redefining cooperation models is essential. Operators need to compete on services while collaborating on infrastructure. Municipalities should serve as neutral conveners, and data and governance should become shared assets to accelerate deployment.
Drawing from case studies and economic modelling, the proposed “Partnership Compact for Germany 2030” offers a pathway for collaborative infrastructure. It outlines how cooperation can lead to faster rollout, smarter investment, and stronger digital sovereignty. This approach shifts the focus from competition to collaboration, fostering a shared digital future for Germany.
