Reason for Germany's Internet Slug: An Examination
In the digital age, a reliable internet connection is essential for businesses and individuals alike. However, Germany, a nation known for its technological advancements, is grappling with issues related to internet connectivity.
According to a nationwide survey, 64.5 percent of companies reported that inadequate connections hampered their business processes, with 31 percent experiencing significant restrictions. This issue is particularly prevalent in regions like Saxony and Thuringia, where only about half of households and companies have fibre optic access, leading to around 40 percent of companies reporting poor internet connectivity.
The root of the problem lies in Germany's network infrastructure. Most of the country's network is based on fibre optics, but household internet speeds are often hindered by copper cables. This is a legacy of Germany's preference for copper networks in the 1980s and 90s, which delayed the transition to fibre optics compared to some other countries.
In the early 2000s, Deutsche Telekom, the country's largest telecommunications provider, doubled down on DSL, allowing the transmission of more data through pre-existing copper telephone wires. However, this decision has been criticised for contributing to Germany's slow internet speeds.
The German government recognised the problem and launched a major push to accelerate the rollout of fibre optic cables in 2016. The northern federal states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Bremen, which have the fewest complaints, have seen significant improvements, with around 90 percent coverage in Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and nearly 80 percent in Bremen.
However, improving connections for individual buildings and houses, especially in rural areas, is a long, drawn-out process. This is evident in Berlin, where as of March 2024, only about 34.2 percent of residents had access to fibre connections, with full coverage in the capital now projected for 2028.
The slower speeds in Germany are also due, in part, to one connection often being shared between several households. This is a challenge that the government and providers are working to address.
Industry analysis by BREKO suggests that the government is on target to meet its goal of 50 percent fibre optic availability across the country by the end of 2025. However, concerns about unfair business practices by major providers like Deutsche Telekom persist. In May 2025, an alliance filed an official complaint against Deutsche Telekom with Germany's Federal Network Agency, alleging the creation of artificial bottlenecks and violation of European net neutrality laws.
Despite these challenges, Germany excels in other areas of digital life. The country ranked highly in the Digital Quality of Life Index 2024 for internet affordability, digital security, e-governance, and digital infrastructure. Singapore, a top-ranking country, boasts a median fixed broadband speed of 394.30 Mbps, a stark contrast to Germany's average download speed of 98.33 Mbps, according to the Speedtest Global Index, which ranks Germany 57th worldwide for fixed broadband internet speed.
As Germany continues to invest in and improve its broadband infrastructure, it is hopeful that the issues with internet connectivity will be resolved, ensuring a more connected and digital future for its businesses and residents.
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