Ac­cess ser­vices - ac­cess and rates

As the dominant letter service provider, Deutsche Post AG (DP AG) is required to offer network access for competitors.


The term "network" can mean service networks as well as physical network infrastructure. In the postal sector, the physical component is limited to hubs, especially mail centres. The hubs are connected by service structures, as a result of which the postal sector is less capital-intensive and more personnel-intensive. Personnel (e.g. for transport and delivery) is therefore a crucial element for a postal company.

Report on access services

Mail volume on the letters market consists of private and business mail. Under certain circumstances, business mail consignors can drop off their mail items directly at DP AG or other postal distribution services themselves either as large volume mailers or through a service provider, referred to as a mail consolidator. As only part of DP AG's network is used in these cases, this is referred to as access mail. As far as the Bundesnetzagentur is aware, the most significant share of mail volume is generated by access mail.

Given the significance of access mail for the letters market, the Bundesnetzagentur publishes a report on the terms and conditions and rates for large volume mail and mail consolidation; the first report was published in 2019. The aim of the report is to achieve greater transparency of the terms and conditions and rates for access mail. It shows the rate trends for large volume mail and mail consolidation, what is required to prepare items as access mail for DP AG's basic products and the structures and market players in the business mail segment.

Report 2023 - Terms and Conditions and Rates for Large Volume Mail and Mail Consolidation on the Letters Market (pdf / 927 KB)
Report 2022 - Terms and Conditions and Rates for Large Volume Mailers and Mail Consolidators on the Letters Market (pdf / 956 KB)

Access service – performance of infrastructure services

On 1 January 2018, DP AG launched a contract for the "performance of infrastructure services". Under certain circumstances companies that perform or take on these access services can receive a discount of 3% (as at 1 January 2018). The access service includes franking activities, so DP AG's "Order Management" is to be used by various market participants when dropping off mail items in the framework of these franking services. Introduction of the access service "performance of infrastructural services" has considerable effects on contracting partners' processes. An overview of the processes before and after introduction of the service as well as other requirements and information on the implementation process can be found in the document (available in German only) "Ergebnisse der Marktbefragung zur Einführung des Infrastrukturrabatts der DP AG" (Results of Market Polling on the Launch of the DP AG Infrastructure Discount).

Results of the market survey (in German)

Useful links on network access (in German)

Electronic order management – downloads (DP AG website)

IT-supported franking – downloads (DP AG website)

Postage with franking machines (DP AG website)

Study "Zugang zu Teilleistungen der Deutschen Post AG für Wettbewerber" (Access to DP AG's network for competitors)

In May 2017, the Bundesnetzagentur published a study on the access opportunities of competing companies to DP AG's access services.

Study "Access to DP AG's network for competitors" (in German)

For the study, several hundred letter service providers were surveyed about Deutsche Post's access services. Nearly half of them made regular use of such services. The Bundesnetzagentur's survey provided valuable information about satisfaction with acceptance times at Deutsche Post, the differences in use of the individual access service offerings and licensees' general evaluation. It also gives a good overview of market activities in this letter sector. The Bundesnetzagentur is now looking at which conclusions for its regulatory work may be drawn from the results of the study.

Inspection

In accordance with section 30(2) of the Postal Act (PostG), the Bundesnetzagentur publishes in its Official Gazette when and where rates and other terms and conditions for access services under section 28 PostG, as well as for access to PO box facilities and change of address information under section 29 PostG, which are not included in the general terms and conditions, may be inspected.
These documents may be inspected at the Bundesnetzagentur's premises in Bonn (Tulpenfeld 4, 53113 Bonn) during office hours. An appointment must be made before inspection. To make an appointment, please contact Ruling Chamber 5 by email at bk5-postfach@bnetza.de or write to

Bundesnetzagentur für Elektrizität, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen
Postfach 8001
53105 Bonn

The right of inspection relates to the following contracts of Deutsche Post AG and Deutsche Post Inhaus Services GmbH

Deutsche Post AG

  • Contract for the use of a franking machine
  • Contract for outward mail centre letters commercial consolidation access services
  • Contract for outward mail centre customer letter access services
  • Additional agreement on the contract for outward mail centre customer letter access services
  • Contract for inward mail centre commercial consolidation access services
  • Contract for Dialogpost inward mail centre commercial consolidation access services
  • Contract for inward mail centre customer letter access services
  • Additional agreement on the contract for inward mail centre customer letter access services
  • Contract for Dialogpost inward mail centre customer access services
  • Contract for the performance of infrastructure services
  • Agreement on the IT franking of mail items
  • Contract for Dialogpost cooperation
  • Additional agreement on the contract for Dialogpost cooperation
  • Contract for access to change of address information
  • Additional agreement on the contract for access to change of address information pursuant to section 29(2) PostG
  • Contract for access to PO box facilities
  • Additional agreement on contract for access to PO box facilities

Deutsche Post Inhaus Services GmbH

  • Contract on letter-post items

Deutsche Post AG's contracts are standard contracts. Deutsche Post Inhaus Services GmbH's contracts are individual contracts that may differ in their terms and rates. Over 3,500 contract documents of Deutsche Post Inhaus Services GmbH are available.

Access to PO box facilities

On 11 March 2016, the Bundesnetzagentur published a study on the access opportunities of competing companies to Deutsche Post AG's PO box facilities.

The evaluation of the study "Zugang zu Postfachanlagen" (access to PO box facilities) may be found here:

Study access to PO box facilities (2015) (in German)

Access to change of address information

In April 2016, the Bundesnetzagentur published a study on the access opportunities of competing companies to the information held by Deutsche Post AG on changes of address.
The evaluation of the study "Zugang zu Adressänderungsinformationen" (access to change of address information) may be found here:

Study "access to change of address information" (in German)

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