Telecommunication Infrastructure

Germany has one of the world's most technologically advanced telecommunications systems. With a share of 28%, Germany is the single largest Telecommunication market in Europe and is fully liberalized since January 1, 1998. As a result of intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly backward system of the eastern part of the country is being rapidly updated to the most advanced technology. Germany is served by an digitized switching system connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system. The fiber-optic cables build up the most dense network in the world. Cellular telephone service is widely available and includes roaming service to many foreign countries.

Deutsche Telekom AG is Europe’s largest telecommunications company and the third largest carrier worldwide. It provides universal services including the online service "T-online" and a TV cable network. The number of telephone lines grew to over 44 million (including 7.3 million ISDN B channels). The basis for the high developed and widespread infrastructure in Germany is the network of the Deutsche Telekom. By December 31, 1997, the following infrastructure was provided:

(Resource: Deutsche Telekom)

The Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (Reg TP) has granted 225 Licenses which serve as the basis for efficient allocation of telecommunication services. (3)

The Reg TP has granted 55 Licenses to operate Satellite Transmission Networks. This does not include voice telephony, transmission networks for mobile communication other than satellite and wire transmission networks.  Space segments or satellite capacity are also not included. Out of the 58 Licenses, 11 are obtained by Radio or Television Companies and 22 of all proprietors are based outside Germany. Furthermore, 3 S-PCS Licenses for transmission networks of satellite based personal communication systems have been granted to ELSACOM S.p.A. (Rome, Italy), Iridium Communications Germany GmbH (Duesseldorf, Germany) and OHB - Orbital- und Hydrotechnologie GmbH (Bremen, Germany).

 

On May 6, 1998, 63 licenses  were given by the Reg TPto provide voice telephony services based on self operated networks. This license does not include the right to operate wire transmission networks. The voice telephony service was the last to be liberalized and therefore completed the liberalization process on January 1, 1998. Of all 63 only 15 Licenses grant the right to provide nationwide services.

 

Since the liberalization of the telecommunications industry has been completed just recently, the future degree of competition can not be determined yet. Deutsche Telekom, the former PTT, faces competition from many smaller local and also international telecommunication companies. Even outside metropolitan areas such as Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt / Main and Munich, networks from Deutsche Telekom are complemented by high-speed networks - or city networks - that are offered by telecommunications companies - often founded by local utility companies - and enable a data exchange between the companies linked to it and with the Internet. Several hundred data bases offer customers from industry and institutions information upon request for a fee. However, three companies that have been successful in the mobile area, but which still earn the lion's share of their profits in the energy or steel areas, are expected to be DT's main competitors:

O.tel.o

o.tel.o, the cooperation between VEBA AG and RWE AG, the country's largest energy providers, is considered to be the other main competitor. O.tel.o operates a 11,000 km fiberoptical network based on SDH-technology (synchronous digital hierarchy) with transmission capacities up to 2.5 Gbit/s. It also holds 60.25% of the third largest cellular phone company e-plus. Since one major obstacle for the new competitors is to overcome the last golden mile to connect the enduser, O.tel.o tests wireless local loop (WLL) technology based on the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) standard. Currently the 6 qkm testing area in the city of Gelsenkirchen serves 500 users through 96 basis stations. The operation of DECT based telecommunication is regulated through licenses by the Reg TP due to the narrow frequency range. Therefore, DECT is only a limited solution to overcome the last mile.

Mobile Telecommunication

Market penetration, however, is still modest with 9.6 hand-held cellular telephones per 100 citizens in 1997. Unlike other European countries, where it is very much a fashion fad to carry and use a mobile phone, the public use of mobile telephones in Germany is not considered "trendy," nor are the users considered "important." In Germany, reasons for the use of mobile telecommunications equipment are mostly pragmatic.

Mobile Data Communication

Paging

Compared with other industrialized countries, paging appears not to be very popular in Germany, although some of the providers offer features that allow paging in France and Switzerland (Eurosignal) or the UK (Cityruf). Offered services differ in their scope: "Eurosignal" is the "classic" paging signal-tone, "Cityruf" offers signal and text, "Scall" can transmit numbers and limited text, and "Skyper" offers text and information transmission. The number of paging-users is estimated at 1.2 million, with 300,000 expected additional new users per year. 

Satellite telephony

Satellite earth stations

Additional facts on information technology infrastructure

Radio stations

            Deutsches Forschungsnetz - German Research Network (DFN):

Established in 1984 as a self-help association for research and science, the Association for the Promotion of a German Research Network Reg. Assoc. - DFN-Verein - ensures to the operation and further development of the infrastructure Deutsches Forschungsnetz.  Some 400 member facilities - institutions of higher education, public and private research, research-oriented companies, culture, education, public authorities - are currently using the Deutsches Forschungsnetz as members of the DFN-Verein.  The DFN-Verein ensures to demand-oriented further development of the infrastructure.   Innovative application projects are initiated within the scope of the development program.

         

Sources (4)

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