BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - In three letters to the German government, the associations of telecommunications competitors have called for more transparency and clarification regarding the expansion of the broadband network with fiber optic lines. At the same time, the telecommunications associations Breko, Anga and VATM accused Deutsche Telekom of nipping competition in the bud with a deliberate double expansion of fiber optic lines. Deutsche Telekom's business policy is leading to "massive uncertainty among local citizens, who do not understand why two fiber optic networks are to be built at once - but in the end possibly none at all".

The Telekom competitors assume that the announcement of a double expansion or the actual double expansion will tie up already scarce resources in civil engineering and planning as well as with approval authorities. They also lead to cost increases. According to the competitors, this prevents rapid expansion across the country.

Specifically, the associations' letters to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Digital Minister Volker Wissing and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (both FDP) are about an expert opinion from the Federal Network Agency on duplicate fiber optic expansion projects. Last summer, the Digital Ministry set up a monitoring office at the Federal Network Agency to record the cases. Although an evaluation of more than 300 cases has been available for weeks to Stefan Schnorr, the State Secretary responsible in the Digital Ministry, the agency's report has not yet been published.

A "clear rejection of a strategically destructive superstructure" is overdue, according to the letter to the Federal Chancellor. "We expect the company, which is still largely owned by the federal government, to ensure appropriate transparency in the expansion itself, not to displace other companies and not to strategically undermine the goals of the federal government out of self-interest."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Digital Affairs told the news agency dpa that there was no report yet. "Both expanding companies and local authorities have reported numerous cases of overbuilding. The investigation by the monitoring body has not yet been completed."

A Telekom spokesperson rejected the associations' accusations. "Our competitors are obviously trying by all means to exert pressure on an independent authority." Telekom builds two thirds of all new fiber optic connections in Germany. "We are also being overbuilt." The company itself has reported 200 cases of overbuilding to the Federal Network Agency./chd/DP/zb