Welcome to the digital diaspora

Germany is to become a “gigabit society”. At least that’s what the German government has been saying for years. Most recently, the Federal Ministry of Transport confirmed last October that “super-fast Internet with at least 1 gigabit/s” should be available throughout Germany by 2025. So far, so laudable. After all, only just over four percent of German households currently have a fiber optic connection, which is essential for these transmission rates. In Poland and France, the figure is around six times higher. In Spain, one in three households can use high-speed Internet.

So it’s high time that the world’s fourth largest economy did something about its digitalization. However, experts have calculated that if the expansion of fiber optic networks continues at this pace, the goal of “fiber optics for all” will only be achieved in 128 years. In other words, around 100 years after the planned date. Incidentally, fiber optic cables are currently more resistant to interference and eavesdropping than the widespread copper variants.

The expansion of the 5G network, which also enables extremely fast data streams, has started earlier than expected. However, the gaps that still exist around the 4G network suggest that rural areas in particular will have to wait a very long time before people can benefit from the technology here too.

To summarize: For the foreseeable future, Germany looks set to remain a digital diaspora for the most part.

If this were to happen, it would have devastating consequences for the economy and society. Fast data transmission is essential for the functioning of Industry 4.0. Working from home, which has also become part of everyday life in Germany since COVID-19, is also inconceivable without high-performance internet. Schools and similar educational institutions also need to be connected to a broadband network in a timely manner – just as digital learning content needs to be developed and implemented. If only to prepare the next generation for the current challenges.

I think the slowness of digitalization is primarily due to the fact that there are too many players on this playing field. Almost every ministry has something to contribute to the topic – often driven by conflicting (vested) interests. The Ministry of Infrastructure is working on network expansion and 5G, the Ministry of Defense is concerned with cybersecurity, the Ministry of Labor is dealing with challenges for employees in the age of automation and so on.

What is missing, however, is a captain, for example in the form of a digital ministry that sets out a comprehensive strategy.