The government understands this needs to change within the next few years. Digitalisation is an essential topic in the recent coalition agreement between Germany’s governing parties CDU/CSU and SPD. Key focus areas include modernisation of public administration, and digital infrastructure. Earlier this year, Dorothea Baer of the conservative CSU was appointed as State Minister for Digital Affairs affiliated with the Chancellor's Office.

 

To support the country’s digitalisation efforts, Digital Council has also been appointed by the German government. Its ten members come from academia, research and the private sector and offer a wide range of practical experience. The council is scheduled to meet with Chancellor Merkel and other cabinet members at least twice a year. Every department and every minister has free access to this body.

 

On August 22, the new Digital Council convened for the first time. In her weekly video message, Merkel commented: “I am convinced that we can only keep up our governmental action if we also look for external advice.” The body is chaired by former State Secretary for Defence, Katrina Suder, who has expressed that her team should ‘drive’ the government and not be afraid of making things ‘uncomfortable’ for them. Issues the council is focusing on include the national broadband rollout, a ‘digital agreement’ for schools and universities and improving framework conditions for start-ups.

 

Germany’s regulator has already stated that the country’s telecoms industry should accelerate high-speed broadband network build-out. Germany had planned to provide 50 mb/s internet across the country in 2018 but the legacy copper network is not conducive to this. During last year’s coalition talks, Merkel discussed investing € 20 bn on fibre by 2025.  Merkel’s party wants to allocate €3 bn euros each year to build a 5G network complementing fibre-optic push.