telecommunications
Fast Internet: Associations warn against definitions that are too narrow
In a joint statement, the telecommunications and digital associations in Germany warned the traffic light coalition in Berlin not to define the technical values for a legally prescribed minimum Internet service too narrowly. Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
The “right to fast internet” decided by the federal government is not intended to define high speeds, but a basic service. The digital associations warn against a too strict technical definition.
In a joint statement, the telecommunications and digital associations in Germany warned the traffic light coalition in Berlin not to define the technical values for a legally prescribed minimum Internet service too narrowly.
“With the currently specified minimum requirements and the associated practical exclusion of satellite Internet, a short-term guarantee of basic Internet service for all citizens is a long way off,” said the seven associations on Wednesday.
The technical details are not about the bandwidth, because the values defined by the Federal Network Agency of at least 10 megabits per second for downloads and 1.7 megabits for uploads are usually also achieved with satellite internet. However, the prescribed data runtime (latency) of a maximum of 150 milliseconds cannot actually be achieved with the geostationary Internet with distant missiles in space. Here the data packets require 300 milliseconds and more. However, the regulation provides for exceptions in which the Federal Network Agency can also accept higher latencies in individual cases.
Still the green light from the Federal Council
The associations Anga, Bitkom, Breko, Buglas, Eco, VATM and VKU warned in their statement that a “de facto exclusion of satellite communication would endanger Germany’s plans for the fastest possible fiber optic expansion” because scarce construction capacities would have to be reprioritized anyway. Therefore, one advocates allowing increased latency values, at least for a transitional period, which can also be achieved by geostationary satellites.
The green light from the Federal Council and the Digital Committee of the Bundestag is still missing for the ordinance to come into force. The digital committee will deal with it on Wednesday afternoon.