Germany agrees on broadband interoperability

The Next Generation Access Forum, led by the German regulator Bundesnetzagentur, has adopted a policy document on the interoperability of broadband networks.

This agreement will allow different operators, particularly those with local or regional broadband networks, to offer their services in competition across networks and across the country.

 

Bundesnetzagentur President, Matthias Kurth, says that a high level of additional investment remains necessary for the development of modern broadband networks:

 

“Uniformly specified wholesale products and multilateral agreement on technical interfaces and operative processes are absolutely essential in order for the individual networks created in this process to be able to realise services across networks. Based on the new consensus, these can happen. Market participants can conclude bilateral agreements regarding various wholesale products on this basis. The necessary planning security and transparency has been created for them.”

 

Kurth adds that the new policy document is a key prerequisite for further investments and innovations in Germany’s future broadband networks. It specifies access network architectures and technologies, describes requirements for wholesale products and derives descriptions and recommendations for cooperation interfaces. Kurth adds:

 

“The new hope is therefore that this future market for broadband communication, of great significance for Germany, can be shaped by voluntary principles of cooperation.”