On 19 April, the Bundesverband Breitbandkommunikation (BREKO) celebrated its 25th anniversary.
With its current 487 member companies, including 248 network operators, and its teams in Bonn, Berlin and Brussels, the association is regarded as the central voice for fibre optic expansion and digitalisation.
„Founded in Bonn in 1999 as the ‚Bundesverband der regionalen und lokalen Telekommunikationsgesellschaften' BREKO had around 50 member companies when it was renamed ‚Bundesverband Breitbandkommunikation' in 2005“, BREKO states on its website. „Since then, not only has the number of members increased tenfold. The topics of the association's work have also changed significantly: Today, no one doubts the necessity of nationwide fibre optic networks. Instead of 'whether', the debate is about 'how' fibre optic expansion can best be advanced. In addition to improving the political and regulatory framework, the association sees fair competition in the telecommunications market in particular as the key to success. In addition, BREKO has developed beyond the traditional work of the association by founding the BREKO Purchasing Association in 2010 and the BREKO Service Company in 2015, offering its members an even stronger network and additional services within the BREKO network.“
Joint commitment to the same goals
The company of BREKO President Norbert Westfal (Management Spokesman at EWE TEL) has been a member from the very beginning. „25 years of BREKO stand for 25 years of successful competition in the telecommunications market and customer-orientated, forward-looking development“, says Westfal. „BREKO's strong growth in membership proves its attractiveness and strength. Our 500 or so member companies are united by the fact that, as drivers of digitalisation in Germany, we are investing billions in a sustainable fibre-optic infrastructure and are committed to fair competition for all market participants on a daily basis. Because only through fair competition is it possible to bring everyone in Germany into the gigabit society. We are the voice for this.“
„An association is only as strong as its members“
Dr. Stephan Albers, BREKO Managing Director for almost 15 years, attributes a significant part of the association's success to its member companies: „An association is only as strong as its members. On this anniversary, I would like to sincerely thank all our members for their great commitment to the association's work – in our four working groups, ten national groups, numerous project groups and on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. This great cooperation and a great team in our three offices motivate me every day to continue fighting for our great common goal: 100 % fibre optic coverage for Germany.“
Three highlights of the BREKO anniversary year
The anniversary will initially be celebrated on 3 June 2024 – as part of a joint meeting of all BREKO working groups in Bonn.
At the BREKO Annual Conference on 28 November 2024 in Berlin, the association will then open its doors to celebrate the anniversary together with the „entire telecommunications community from business, politics, administration, science, media and civil society“.
The anniversary year will then come to an end with Fiberdays 25 on 2 and 3 April 2025 at Messe Frankfurt.
(Quelle: BREKO)