Financial expert warns of the effects of exemptions for fiber optic network operators

Financial expert warns of the effects of exemptions for fiber optic network operators

According to a report by www.ak-kurier.de,

Many fiber optic network operators want to force consumers to use rental equipment by means of an exemption. This would undermine the legally required freedom of use of devices. The consumer advice center works with the Federal Network Agency to maintain freedom of choice.

According to technology expert Michael Gundall from the Rhineland-Palatinate consumer advice center, the telecommunications provider's responsibility ends at the so-called passive network termination point. This means that consumers should have the right to decide for themselves whether they want to use a purchased device or a rental device from the network operator for their fiber optic connection. But with an application to the Federal Network Agency, the provider associations vatm, anga, Breko and vku want to ensure that consumers have to use the provider's fiber optic modem (ONT).

This could mean that consumers can only rent energy-saving combination devices, i.e. routers with an integrated fiber optic modem, from the provider. This would not only limit consumers' freedom of choice, but also force them to use less energy efficient appliances. In a statement to the Federal Network Agency, the consumer advice center advocates maintaining the freedom to choose terminal devices in the hope that the provider associations' application will be rejected.

Deutsche Telekom has already positioned itself at the end of 2021 and is allowing consumers to choose whether they want to use their own fiber optic modem or a router with an integrated fiber optic modem, or whether they want to buy or rent a device from the provider. This could be a positive example for other providers who should respect consumers' freedom of choice.