Germany telecommunications lines, mobile traffic, revenue and investment
The German telecommunications market as the Bundesnetzagentur measures it, in one place.
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed broadband6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed broadband: lines by technology1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total active broadband lines5 | 38.8 | 38.6 | 38.4 | 37.5 | 36.9 | 36.2 | 35.2 | 34.2 | 33.2 | 32 | 30.7 | 29.6 | 28.7 | 28 | 27.3 | 26.2 | 25 | 22.7 | 19.7 | 15 | 10.8 | 7 | 4.5 | ||||||
| DSL | 22.7 | 23.6 | 24.5 | 24.7 | 25.4 | 25.4 | 25.3 | 25 | 24.7 | 24 | 23.5 | 23.3 | 23.2 | 23.3 | 23.5 | 23 | 22.4 | 20.9 | 18.5 | 14.4 | 10.5 | 6.8 | 4.4 | ||||||
| Hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.3 | 8 | 7.7 | 7.2 | 6.6 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | ||||||
| Fibre to the home/building | 6.4 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fixed wireless via LTE/5G | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Leased lines, microwave, satellite and other | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fixed broadband: fibre lines in use1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total FttH and FttB2 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fibre to the home (FttH) | 5.2 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fibre to the building (FttB) | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fixed broadband: fibre homes passed, connected and activated5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FttB activated | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1 | 0.9 | 0.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| FttB connected | 3.3 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homes passed | 27.1 | 21.8 | 17.9 | 13.1 | 8.9 | 6.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| FttH connected | 7.1 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 3 | 2.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| FttH activated | 5.2 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed broadband: DSL lines by wholesale access1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total active DSL lines3 | 22.7 | 23.6 | 24.5 | 24.7 | 25.4 | 25.4 | 25.3 | 25 | 24.7 | 24 | 23.5 | 23.3 | 23.2 | 23.3 | 23.5 | 23 | 22.4 | 20.9 | |||||||||||
| Deutsche Telekom direct customers | 13.2 | 13.7 | 14 | 13.9 | 13.9 | 13.7 | 13.5 | 13.3 | 13.1 | 12.9 | 12.6 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 11.9 | 11.5 | 10.6 | |||||||||||
| Competitors using Telekom bitstream and resale | 8 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 8 | 7.7 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 2 | 1.8 | 2 | 2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | |||||||||||
| Competitors using unbundled loops, other carriers or own networks | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 7.8 | |||||||||||
| Fixed broadband: market shares by provider group2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deutsche Telekom direct retail customers | 38.8 | 39.1 | 39 | 39.1 | 39.1 | 38.8 | 39 | 39.5 | 39.7 | 40.6 | 41.2 | 41.8 | 43.2 | 44.6 | 45.1 | 45.7 | 46.2 | 46.9 | 46.1 | 47.6 | 59.4 | 80.3 | 88.5 | 91.9 | 95 | ||||
| Competitors | 61.2 | 60.9 | 61 | 60.9 | 60.9 | 61.2 | 61 | 60.5 | 60.3 | 59.4 | 58.8 | 58.2 | 56.8 | 55.4 | 54.9 | 54.3 | 53.8 | 53.1 | 53.9 | 52.4 | 40.6 | 19.7 | 11.5 | 8.1 | 5 | ||||
| Fixed broadband: data traffic2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fixed broadband data volume | 175 | 149 | 132 | 121 | 100 | 81 | 60 | 46 | 39 | 28 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Average per line and month | 376 | 322 | 293 | 274 | 226 | 186 | 142 | 112 | 98 | 73 | 46 | 34 | 29 | 21 | 17 | ||||||||||||||
| Fixed voice telephony2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed voice: access lines1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total2 | 37.9 | 38.4 | 38.7 | 38.6 | 38.5 | 38.4 | 38.3 | 38.4 | 38.6 | 38.2 | 37.8 | 37.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Deutsche Telekom | 16.7 | 17.1 | 17.3 | 17.3 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 17.8 | 18.5 | 19.2 | 19.9 | 20.2 | 20.7 | |||||||||||||||||
| Competitors | 21.2 | 21.3 | 21.4 | 21.3 | 21 | 20.9 | 20.5 | 19.9 | 19.4 | 18.3 | 17.6 | 16.8 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fixed voice: call minutes1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total2 | 47 | 57 | 64 | 80 | 93 | 104 | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deutsche Telekom | 25 | 29 | 33 | 39 | 47 | 53 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competitors | 22 | 28 | 31 | 41 | 46 | 51 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile communications8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile: SIM profiles by provider type1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total active SIM profiles2 | 106.4 | 109.2 | 105.5 | 104.4 | 106.4 | 107.4 | 107.2 | 107.5 | 109.7 | 109.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile network operators | 95.5 | 86.6 | 81 | 80.5 | 81.5 | 80.2 | 79.8 | 80 | 81.6 | 83.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Service providers and MVNOs | 10.9 | 22.6 | 24.5 | 23.9 | 24.9 | 27.2 | 27.3 | 27.5 | 28.1 | 25.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile: SIM profiles by contract type1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total2 | 106.4 | 109.2 | 105.5 | 104.4 | 106.4 | 107.4 | 107.2 | 107.5 | 109.7 | 109.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Postpaid | 78.1 | 79.7 | 75 | 72.5 | 70.7 | 72.4 | 70.9 | 70.1 | 69.8 | 66.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prepaid | 28.3 | 29.5 | 30.5 | 31.9 | 35.7 | 35 | 36.3 | 37.4 | 39.9 | 42.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile: machine-to-machine SIM profiles1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Machine-to-machine SIM profiles | 86.1 | 73.7 | 62.8 | 58.3 | 45.6 | 36 | 27.7 | 23.1 | 17.6 | 11.1 | 4.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile: base stations by technology1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total base stations4 | 238,820 | 222,474 | 214,677 | 203,241 | 187,443 | 224,554 | 190,595 | 181,640 | 175,976 | 179,690 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5G | 67,272 | 56,558 | 49,571 | 41,945 | 29,959 | 19,510 | 139 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| LTE/4G | 92,036 | 88,373 | 87,905 | 85,054 | 82,479 | 75,901 | 62,567 | 54,911 | 48,146 | 44,077 | |||||||||||||||||||
| UMTS/3G | 0 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 652 | 56,934 | 57,457 | 57,180 | 57,905 | 60,827 | |||||||||||||||||||
| GSM/2G | 79,512 | 77,543 | 77,201 | 76,131 | 74,353 | 72,209 | 70,432 | 69,549 | 69,925 | 74,786 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile: voice traffic2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outgoing mobile-network traffic | 131.57 | 147.8 | 153.49 | 159.28 | 162.59 | 155.28 | 126.88 | 118.5 | 115.88 | 115.57 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Incoming mobile-network traffic | 115.2 | 129.86 | 133.68 | 138.49 | 139.8 | 130.92 | 104.36 | 94.17 | 93.38 | 92.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile: data traffic2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total mobile data traffic | 10,860 | 9,592 | 9,118 | 6,714 | 5,457 | 3,972 | 2,757 | 1,993 | 1,388 | 913 | 575 | 395 | 267 | 156 | 100 | 65 | 33 | 11 | |||||||||||
| Average per active SIM and month | 8.4 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.01 | |||||||||||
| Mobile: SMS traffic1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Text messages sent | 2.9 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 7.8 | 7 | 7.9 | 8.9 | 10.3 | 12.7 | 16.6 | 22.3 | 37.9 | 59.8 | 54.9 | 41.5 | 34.1 | 27.8 | |||||||||||
| Mobile: international roaming3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data generated abroad | 457.7 | 429 | 347.4 | 261.7 | 149.3 | 88.3 | 98.7 | 66.5 | 33.8 | 11.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Outgoing call minutes abroad | 2,594 | 3,246 | 3,422 | 3,746 | 3,183 | 2,887 | 3,812 | 3,724 | 2,557 | 1,210 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SMS sent abroad | 96 | 150 | 212 | 179 | 152 | 110 | 223 | 277 | 320 | 219 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Market: revenue, investment and employment5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Market: revenue by network1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total telecommunications market4 | 59.63 | 61.29 | 59.83 | 59.18 | 58.36 | 57.19 | 57.49 | 56.99 | 56.69 | 56.85 | 57.36 | 56.76 | 56.99 | 58.02 | 57.79 | 59.15 | 60.41 | ||||||||||||
| xDSL and Fttx networks | 25.66 | 25.73 | 25.07 | 24.94 | 24.94 | 24.63 | 21.79 | 21.6 | 21.65 | 21.96 | 22.15 | 23.19 | 23.69 | 24.45 | 24.97 | 26.3 | 27.78 | ||||||||||||
| HFC cable networks | 5.25 | 5.6 | 5.95 | 5.93 | 6.02 | 5.94 | 5.77 | 5.85 | 5.48 | 5.26 | 5.07 | 4.77 | 4.48 | 4.25 | 3.99 | 3.79 | 3.55 | ||||||||||||
| Mobile networks | 27.16 | 27.48 | 27.6 | 27.53 | 26.5 | 25.65 | 26.6 | 26.55 | 26.37 | 26.46 | 26.96 | 26.12 | 26.22 | 26.53 | 25.85 | 25.84 | 25.38 | ||||||||||||
| Other telecommunications revenue | 1.56 | 2.48 | 1.21 | 0.78 | 0.9 | 0.97 | 3.33 | 2.99 | 3.19 | 3.17 | 3.18 | 2.68 | 2.6 | 2.79 | 2.98 | 3.22 | 3.7 | ||||||||||||
| Market: revenue by provider group1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total telecommunications market2 | 59.6 | 61.3 | 59.8 | 59.2 | 58.4 | 57.2 | 57.5 | 57 | 56.7 | 56.9 | 57.4 | 56.8 | 57 | 58 | 57.8 | 59.2 | 60.4 | 62.3 | 63.9 | 66.3 | 67.3 | 66.8 | 63.9 | 62 | 60.5 | 56.2 | 48.1 | 44.2 | |
| Deutsche Telekom | 26.3 | 27.4 | 25.7 | 25.3 | 25.1 | 24.7 | 24.6 | 24.4 | 24.6 | 24.7 | 25.1 | 25 | 25.4 | 25.8 | 26.4 | 27.3 | 28 | 28.9 | 30.7 | 32.5 | 34.2 | 34.7 | 34.4 | 35.3 | 35.1 | 33.2 | 31.4 | 32.8 | |
| Competitors | 33.3 | 33.9 | 34.1 | 33.9 | 33.3 | 32.5 | 32.9 | 32.6 | 32.1 | 32.2 | 32.3 | 31.8 | 31.6 | 32.2 | 31.4 | 31.9 | 32.4 | 33.4 | 33.2 | 33.8 | 33.1 | 32.1 | 29.5 | 26.7 | 25.4 | 23 | 16.7 | 11.4 | |
| Market: mobile service revenue1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total mobile revenue2 | 27.16 | 27.48 | 27.6 | 27.53 | 26.5 | 25.65 | 26.6 | 26.55 | 26.37 | 26.46 | 26.96 | 26.12 | 26.22 | 26.53 | 25.85 | ||||||||||||||
| Mobile network operators | 22.3 | 22.65 | 22.75 | 22.55 | 21.64 | 20.95 | 21.58 | 21.67 | 21.25 | 21.44 | 22.22 | 21.94 | 21.89 | 22.53 | 21.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Service providers and MVNOs | 4.86 | 4.83 | 4.85 | 4.98 | 4.86 | 4.7 | 5.02 | 4.88 | 5.12 | 5.02 | 4.74 | 4.18 | 4.33 | 4 | 3.95 | ||||||||||||||
| Market: investment1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total telecommunications investment2 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 14.9 | 13.4 | 11.5 | 10.8 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8 | 7.6 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 6.5 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 7.1 | 11.5 | 9.9 | 7.8 | 7.2 | |
| Deutsche Telekom | 5.5 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 3 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 6.3 | 4.2 | 4 | 4.2 | |
| Competitors including cable-TV operators | 9.8 | 10.2 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 7 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 3.8 | 3 | |
| Market: employment1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total telecommunications employees2 | 122.6 | 128 | 132.4 | 133 | 135.8 | 139.8 | 143.8 | 147.9 | 153.7 | 159.6 | 165.9 | 169.2 | 170.7 | 173 | 175.2 | 176.9 | 184.2 | 188.1 | 204.6 | 214.7 | 224.1 | 225.3 | 230.6 | 231.5 | 240.7 | 240.7 | 221.9 | 221.8 | |
| Deutsche Telekom | 71 | 74.7 | 78.7 | 81.5 | 85.2 | 89 | 94.1 | 98.1 | 101.9 | 104.7 | 110.4 | 114.7 | 116.6 | 118.8 | 121.6 | 123.2 | 127.5 | 131.7 | 148.9 | 160 | 168 | 171 | 173.3 | 177.8 | 178.3 | 179.2 | 172.7 | 179.1 | |
| Competitors | 51.6 | 53.3 | 53.7 | 51.5 | 50.6 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 49.8 | 51.8 | 54.9 | 55.5 | 54.5 | 54.1 | 54.2 | 53.6 | 53.7 | 56.7 | 56.4 | 55.7 | 54.7 | 56.1 | 54.3 | 57.3 | 53.7 | 62.4 | 61.5 | 49.2 | 42.7 |
Latest reading
DSL stood at 22.7 Million lines in 2025. That is −3.8% from 2024. The series on this page is annual and runs from 2003 to 2025. Source: Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur).
- Latest
- 22.7 Million lines
- 2025
- vs previous period
- −3.8%
- 2024
About this data
The German telecommunications market as the Bundesnetzagentur measures it, in one place. Fixed broadband: active lines by access technology, fibre actually in use against homes passed and connected, DSL lines by the wholesale product competitors buy, the split between Deutsche Telekom and its competitors, and data traffic. Fixed voice: access lines and call minutes. Mobile: SIM profiles by provider and contract type, machine-to-machine profiles, base stations by radio technology, and voice, data, SMS and roaming volumes. And the economics of all three: end-customer revenue by network and provider group, annual investment in network infrastructure and industry employment.
