2019 Germany - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

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Last updated: 23 Apr 2020 Update History

Report Status: Archived

Report Pages: 255

Publication Overview

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Germany’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors. Subjects include:

  • Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;
  • Facts, figures and statistics;
  • Industry and regulatory issues;
  • Infrastructure developments;
  • Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU;
  • Mobile Voice and Data Markets;
  • Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless);
  • Mobile subscribers and ARPU;
  • Broadband market forecasts;
  • Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
  • Market liberalisation and industry issues;
  • Telecoms operators – privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences;
  • Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE, 5G).

Researcher:- Henry Lancaster
Current publication date:- November 2019 (17th Edition)

Executive Summary

Germany begins to distribute 5G spectrum to licensees

Germany has one of Europe’s largest telecom markets, as befits a country with a population approaching 83 million. Both the fixed network and broadband markets are dominated by Telekom Deutschland, though other notable players include freenet, Vodafone Germany and Telefónica Germany. These altnets have gained market share as the incumbent continues to struggle against regulated network access conditions and market competition, both of which have led to declining revenue during the last few years though revenue growth was evident in 2019.

The German mobile market is being driven by mobile data, with the number of mobile broadband subscribers having increased rapidly in recent years on the back of the near universally available LTE infrastructure. Looking forward, considerable progress is expected in the reach and availability of services based on 5G. The regulator concluded a multi-spectrum auction in mid-2019 and although licensees have complained that the cost of their licenses could retard network build in coming years, the first commercial services have been launched.

Germany also has one of the largest broadband markets in Europe, supported by a progressive pursuit of DOCSIS3.1 and G.fast technologies. The dominant DSL platform is led by Telekom Deutschland, which continues to invest in network upgrades with a focus on a hybrid fibre and vectoring VDSL solution. This strategy is aimed at competing with competitors including Vodafone Germany which has a wide DSL and cable footprint following its recent acquisition of Unitymedia. Network upgrades, in conjunction with 5G deployments, are required to reach the government’s target of providing a gigabit service nationally by 2025.

This report introduces the key aspects of the German telecom market, providing data on the country’s fixed network infrastructure as well as key regulatory developments including the status of interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability, and carrier preselection. The report also covers the mobile voice and data sectors, including an overview of the main operators and their strategies for dealing with competition and emerging technologies, as also an assessment of recent regulatory developments and spectrum auctions. In addition, the report analyses the fixed and wireless broadband markets, together with subscriber forecasts and an assessment of developments with related technologies such as FttP, DOCSIS3.1 and powerline broadband.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

  • Regulator approves four-year termination rates to 2023, sets reduced MTRs through to 2022;
  • Telekom Deutschland launches 5G in five cities;
  • Additional security measures applied to 5G network components;
  • Telefónica Germany expands mobile banking service;
  • Telefónica Germany reports 98% LTE coverage;
  • Vodafone Germany to extend its 1Gb/s service to 25 million premises by 2022;
  • NetCologne rolls out 1Gb/s service in Cologne;
  • EWE to invest more than €1 billion in fibre-based infrastructure to 2026;
  • Report update includes the regulator’s market data for 2018, VATM market data updates for 2019, telcos’ operating and financial data to Q3 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Telekom Deutschland, Freenet, BT Global Services, Tele2 Germany, Telefónica Germany, Vodafone Germany, E-Plus, CallMobile, QSC, Kabel BW, Kabel Deutschland, Unitymedia, PrimaCom, The Cloud, Energie Baden-Wurttemberg.

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