May 22, 2026, 1:25 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
For many people, a stable internet connection has long been a part of everyday life. It’s often only when downloads are slow, or video calls stutter, that the technology behind one’s connection becomes apparent. While more and more fiber-optic lines are being expanded, DSL remains the most important technology for internet access in Germany. A recent market analysis by the industry association VATM now shows why this is unlikely to change in the short term.
DSL Remains the Most Important Broadband Technology
The federal government had already presented its Gigabit Strategy in 2022. The goal is to supply half of all households with fiber optics by 2025 and all households in Germany by 2030. Since then, there has been ongoing discussion about when DSL could be completely phased out.
However, the current figures paint a different picture. According to forecasts, there will be a total of 38.1 million active broadband connections in Germany by the end of 2026. Of these, 21.8 million will be DSL, accounting for 57.2 percent. Thus, DSL remains the most widely used broadband technology.
Fiber-optic connections to the building or directly to the apartment, according to the analysis, account for 7.8 million active connections, or 20.5 percent. Cable connections stand at 8.5 million, or 22.3 percent. Despite the ongoing fiber-optic expansion, the gap to DSL remains significant.
Competitors Drive Fiber-Optic Expansion Forward
The VATM analysis also shows that it is primarily competitors of Telekom that are driving the fiber-optic expansion. According to the market analysis, 69.6 percent of the total 12.5 million connected fiber-optic connections are attributed to other providers.
These providers also lead in actively used fiber-optic connections, with a share of 65.4 percent. Their so-called take-up rate is 30.2 percent. This figure describes the proportion of accessible connections that are actually used. In contrast, Telekom’s share, according to the analysis, is 17.9 percent.
Andreas Walter, managing director of the consulting firm Dialog Consult, which prepared the market analysis on behalf of VATM, explained: “Telekom doesn’t have to push as hard because it also earns from customers who don’t switch to fiber optics […].”
Many Available Fiber-Optic Connections Remain Unused
While the expansion of fiber-optic connections continues, many connections are not yet actively used. According to VATM, around 32 million households and small businesses will be reachable with fiber optics by the end of 2026. However, according to the analysis, only 12.5 million connections are actually connected. Of these, only 7.8 million are actively used. Overall, this results in a take-up rate of 24.4 percent.
The figures clearly show that there is still a large gap between network expansion and actual usage. Simply having fiber-optic availability does not automatically mean that households will switch.
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Many Households See No Advantage in Switching So Far
COMPUTER BILD expert Christian Just also believes that expansion alone is not decisive. More important is whether users see a clear advantage in switching. His assessment of the possible phase-out of DSL is: “Phasing out by 2030 will be difficult, as most households are currently satisfied with the current DSL speed—at least as long as more fiber-optic speed also costs more.” According to the analysis, it is clear that fiber optics must not only be available. It is also crucial whether households actually book the corresponding tariffs.
A specific date for a nationwide DSL phase-out cannot be derived from the current analysis. Instead, VATM expects a gradual transition. Under favorable conditions, fiber optics could, according to forecasts, first replace DSL as the most used connection technology from 2031. However, this would not automatically mean that all DSL connections would be shut down.
The analysis also considers a slower scenario possible. In this case, DSL could still be ahead of fiber optics in 2031. For a realistic phase-out, the expansion would need to focus more on actively used and bookable connections.
DSL Phase-Out Remains Unlikely for Now
As it stands, a DSL phase-out remains a distant prospect. Only when DSL is used by a smaller minority and reliable alternatives are available everywhere could the issue become more concrete.
According to the market analysis, Germany is still far from this point. For consumers, this primarily means one thing for now: Those currently using DSL do not need to worry about being left without an internet connection in the short term. There is currently no fixed date for the final DSL phase-out.