Federal Network Agency: Rural regions with DSL connections

On 3 March 2009, the Federal Network Agency announced a decision which enables competitors of Deutsche Telekom AG (DT AG) to more easily develop and supply previously unserved or insufficiently served rural areas, so-called "white spots", with fast internet connections.

According to this, DT AG must in future also grant its competitors access to the subscriber line (local loop), the so-called "last mile", at a switching distributor. DT AG must set this up at the entrance to a location that has so far had no or only poor broadband access.

With the possibility of accessing the local loop at a switching distributor, the length of the lines between the provider's active technology and the end customer is shortened, which is what makes high-bandwidth internet provision possible in the first place. In addition, the bundling of the necessary DSL technology at only one central point makes the development of rural areas easier. In particular, the otherwise necessary connection of each individual cable branch and the costly civil engineering work required for this are no longer necessary.

The fees to be paid by competitors to DT AG for this new access option to its network will be determined by the Federal Network Agency in a separate approval procedure following the decision.

Source: Press release of the Federal Network Agency of 3.3.2009

 

Goldberg Attorneys at Law

Attorney at Law Michael Ullrich, LL.M. (Information Law)

Specialist lawyer for information technology law (IT law)

Seal