A recent survey commissioned by the German Consumer Association’s national federation reveals that 61 % of households that are not yet connected to fibre‑optic broadband hold no interest in switching. The data come from a Forsa poll carried out for the federation, and were reported by newspapers of the Funke Media Group (free‑issue editions).
The main reasons for the lack of interest were found to be: 74 % of respondents felt their current internet service was sufficient; 28 % cited the cost of a fibre contract; 27 % mentioned the cost of the connection; and 20 % admitted they were not well informed about fibre.
Of those surveyed, 29 % already had a fibre‑optic contract. Among them, more than a quarter (27 %) reported encountering problems. These ranged from delays in the rollout and issues with activating the connection to construction‑related setbacks. Consumer centres routinely receive thousands of complaints each year regarding fibre‑optic internet access.
“Reliable and affordable internet service is more important than ever, and in the long run only fibre can meet this demand. However, high costs, construction problems and opaque terms discourage people from switching” said Lina Ehrig, head of Digital and Media at the Consumer Association’s national federation.
The poll was conducted between 9 and 11 March 2026, involving 1,001 adults who are the sole or joint decision‑makers in their household when selecting an internet provider.