Germany's fiber-optic divide: Why many households still resist upgrading

Nearly a third of Germans now have fiber—but most see no reason to switch. High fees and installation woes keep adoption slow.

, and Administrator

2026 April 11 . 2:12 AM

1 min read

The image shows a poster with text and a logo that reads "19 million households are saving $30-75 per month on high-speed internet". The poster is likely highlighting the fact that 19 million households have a significant amount of money spent on high speed internet.

Germany's fiber-optic divide: Why many households still resist upgrading

61% of households without fiber-optic contracts currently have no interest in this form of internet access, according to a Forsa survey commissioned by the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv) and reported by Funke Mediengruppe newspapers (Friday editions).

Three-quarters (74%) of respondents cited their current internet service as sufficient, while 28% pointed to the cost of a fiber-optic contract as a deterrent, and 27% mentioned the expense of installation. Additionally, one-fifth (20%) admitted they lacked sufficient knowledge about fiber-optic technology.

Meanwhile, 29% of surveyed households already have a fiber-optic contract. Of these, more than a quarter (27%) reported issues, including delays in network expansion, activation problems, or construction-related damage during installation. Consumer advocacy groups also receive thousands of complaints annually regarding fiber-optic internet access.

"Reliable and affordable internet access is more crucial than ever, and in the long term, only fiber optics can meet this demand," said Lina Ehrig, head of the Digital and Media team at the Federation of German Consumer Organizations. "But high costs, expansion challenges, and unclear terms won't convince anyone to switch."

The survey, conducted from March 9 to 11, 2026, polled 1,001 adults aged 18 and older who decide—or help decide—their household's internet provider.