About us

We are Germany's main authority for infrastructure, promoting competition in the markets for energy, telecommunications, post and railways to guarantee the efficiency of our country's vital networks. As a consumer protection authority, we also safeguard the interests of the people using these networks.

History

The Bundesnetzagentur für Elektrizität, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen is an independent higher federal authority with its main office in Bonn operating within the scope of business of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). We have been responsible for Germany's essential electricity, gas, telecommunications and postal infrastructures for over 20 years.

Our authority was founded in 1998 as part of the process of liberalising the postal and telecommunications markets. Our task was to ensure fair and non-discriminatory competition for all market participants. Our success and our expertise in regulation led to the energy and rail sectors also being placed under our responsibility.

The Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post, which took over the responsibilities of the former Federal Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and the Federal Office for Post and Telecommunications, was renamed the Bundesnetzagentur on 13 July 2005.

On 1 January 2006 the Bundesnetzagentur's scope of tasks was extended to cover regulation of the rail sector.

In 2011 the Bundesnetzagentur also took on tasks in connection with the network development plans. If a network development plan indicates the need for expansion of the extra-high voltage network, the Bundesnetzagentur's efficient planning and approval procedures help to speed up implementation.

In June 2013 the Bundesnetzagentur was given additional tasks relating to the expansion of the electricity grid. Since then, it has been responsible for carrying out the planning approval procedures for expansion projects crossing federal state or national borders.

Today, as the main authority responsible for infrastructure, we set the general conditions for fair competition in these sectors and, in our role as supervisory authority, we also take on some functions of consumer protection. Modern energy, communications and transport networks are everyday lifelines in our society. Without these networks a prosperous economy based on the division of labour would be unthinkable. Germany's competitiveness and future as a successful export country depends on the capability of these networks. Core infrastructures make it possible to achieve market power. The interests of companies, politics, the economy and society are not always in alignment. And competition that strikes a balance between these interests does not usually happen by itself.

Regulation of these infrastructures by an independent institution, such as the Bundesnetzagentur, is a key task in our national economy and will remain so. We gladly accept responsibility for this. Now and in the future, as in the past 20 years.

Milestones

2023

3 January 2023
Bundesnetzagentur chairs IRG-Rail

31 January 2023
Approval for early start to construction of river Elbe crossing for SuedLink power line

14 February 2023
Bundesnetzagentur launches procedure for faster electricity supplier switching

15 February 2023
Consultation on LNG entry discount for 2024

2 June 2023
Bundesnetzagentur publishes report on gas storage facility management by Trading Hub Europe

26 June 2023
Bundesnetzagentur publishes figures on current and expected progress in approval procedures for electricity grid expansion

3 July 2023
Monitoring body for duplicate fibre rollout

7 July 2023
Bundesnetzagentur prohibits gas.de Versorgungsgesellschaft mbH from activities as energy supplier to household customers

12 July 2023
Successful bids in dynamic bidding procedures in offshore wind power auctions total €12.6bn

7 August 2023
Bundesnetzagentur rejects Deutsche Post AG application for premature postage increase

14 August 2023
Bundesnetzagentur appoints second CEO at Rosneft

25 August 2023
Results of final coal phase-out tendering process

13 September 2023
Bundesnetzagentur publishes framework for interim decision on provision of spectrum at 800 MHz, 1 800 MHz and 2 600 MHz

21 September 2023
Bundesnetzagentur tests federal load distributor's processes for gas deficit situation

29 September 2023
Bundesnetzagentur approves early start for SuedOstLink power line construction

20 October 2023
Bundesnetzagentur approves early start for A-Nord power line construction

2 November 2023
Bundesnetzagentur updates gas scenarios for winter 2023/2024

15 November 2023
Bundesnetzagentur launches consultation on draft application for hydrogen core network

27 November 2023
Bundesnetzagentur sets rules for integration of controllable consumer devices

1 December 2023
Key elements for fairer distribution of network costs for renewable energy expansion

2022

24 January 2022
Points of orientation for the award of mobile spectrum

27 January 2022
Bundesnetzagentur publishes results of consumer survey on online communications services

23 February 2022
Technical Directive for public warnings using mobile networks

28 February 2022
Gaia-X funding competition: €117mn for eleven flagship projects

1 March 2022
Klaus Müller becomes President

30 March 2022
Bundesnetzagentur publishes paper on authority's role in a gas deficit situation

4 April 2022
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action appoints Bundesnetzagentur as fiduciary of Gazprom Germania GmbH

8 April 2022
Bundesnetzagentur appoints fiduciary representative for Gazprom Germania GmbH

3 May 2022
Bundesnetzagentur launches gas consumer data survey

20 May 2022
Full Ultranet route corridor decided

1 June 2022
Barbie Kornelia Haller becomes Vice President

3 June 2022
Discount set for entry points from LNG facilities

17 June 2022
Ordinance on minimum supply requirements promulgated

20 June 2022
Paper published on market measures before and during a gas deficit situation

5 September 2022
Principles published on essential demand of protected and non-protected customers in a national gas deficit situation

6 September 2022
Strategy paper published on resilience of telecommunications networks

8 September 2022
Bundesnetzagentur for the first time formally identifies undersupply of telecommunications services

16 September 2022
Bundesnetzagentur becomes fiduciary of Rosneft Deutschland GmbH and RN Refining & Marketing GmbH

22 September 2022
Position paper published on the award of mobile spectrum

29 September 2022
Bundesnetzagentur starts weekly publication of figures on gas consumption in Germany

29 September 2022
Security Platform Gas launched

17 November 2022
Ordinance issued on regulatory framework for LNG facilities

24 November 2022
Start of determination proceedings on integration of controllable loads

25 November 2022
Bundesnetzagentur publishes indicators on gas supply situation

8 December 2022
Paper published by federal load distributor on voluntary measures taken to save gas

13 December 2022
Bundesnetzagentur consolidates data bases for broadband rollout in gigabit register

2021

11 March 2021
Online Copyright Clearance System arranges block of streaming site

15 March 2021
Bundesnetzagentur implements funding programme for Gaia-X European cloud

21 March 2021
Determination of full SuedLink route corridor

21 June 2021
Scenarios for the provision of mobile spectrum

1 July 2021
Bundesnetzagentur publishes phase-out ranking for coal

14 July 2021
Wi-Fi use now also in the 6 GHz frequency band

27 July 2021
Bundesnetzagentur takes on regulatory tasks for hydrogen networks

4 August 2021
Determination of full route corridor for A-Nord

5 October 2021
Fines for manipulation of wholesale energy market

11 October 2021
Bundesnetzagentur presents draft of future access regulation

20 October 2021
Rates of return on equity set for electricity and gas sectors (5.07%/3.51%)

28 October 2021
Bundesnetzagentur opens new site in Cottbus

16 November 2021
Certification procedure for Nord Stream 2 suspended

8 December 2021
New reduction rules for fixed networks published

10 December 2021
Standard letter rate from January 2022 at 85 cents

22 December 2021
Consultation on requirements for basic telecommunications service provision

2020

29 January 2020
Bundesnetzagentur reviews increase in parcel prices for private customers

3 February 2020
Bundesnetzagentur decides on route corridor for first section of SuedLink

2 March 2020
Bundesnetzagentur decides on full route corridor for SuedOstLink

14 April 2020
Bundesnetzagentur finds no mobile network operators have met coverage obligations from 2015 spectrum auction

21 April 2020
Bundesnetzagentur finds failure by several companies to meet commitments from electricity balancing group contracts

5 May 2020
Bundesnetzagentur rejects application by Nord Stream 2 AG for derogation from regulation

22 May 2020
Bundesnetzagentur publishes report on use of online communications services in Germany

30 June 2020
Bundesnetzagentur publishes results of consultation on blockchain technology in network sectors

9 July 2020
Bundesnetzagentur gives Telefónica administrative fine warning because of failure to meet coverage obligations from 2015 spectrum auction on time

3 July 2020
Bundesnetzagentur launches market consultation on regulation of hydrogen networks

7 September 2020
Bundesnetzagentur starts administrative fines proceedings against three electricity market participants on suspicion of market manipulation

20 October 2020
Bundesnetzagentur publishes results of consultation on importance of digital platforms for business customers

29 October 2020
Bundesnetzagentur publishes map of current mobile coverage in Germany

16 November 2020
Bundesnetzagentur decides on provision of 450 MHz spectrum primarily for critical infrastructure in energy and water industries

1 December 2020
Bundesnetzagentur announces successful bids in first tendering round for coal phase-out

2019

21 January 2019
Bundesnetzagentur decides on route corridor for first section of Ultranet power line

31 January 2019
Bundesnetzagentur launches core energy market data register

20 February 2019
First fines for manipulation of wholesale energy market

7 March 2019
Bundesnetzagentur publishes key elements for additional security requirements for telecommunications networks

12 June 2019
5G spectrum auctioned for €6.5bn

19 June 2019
Standard letter rate from July 2019 at 80 cents

5 July 2019
Key elements published for differentiated regulation of copper-based and fibre-based wholesale products

18 July 2019
Package of measures to improve upholding of balancing group commitments

10 October 2019
Bundesnetzagentur publishes rules for mobile payments

23 October 2019
Bundesnetzagentur decides on route corridor for first section of SuedOstLink

21 November 2019
Application procedure for 5G local campus networks opened

2018

23 January 2018
Bundesnetzagentur discounts Thuringia's SuedLink proposal from consideration

3 April 2018
Bundesnetzagentur decides on first route corridor for power line (Bertikow - Pasewalk)

8 May 2018
Bundesnetzagentur imposes billing and collecting ban to protect router hacking victims

29 May 2018
Bundesnetzagentur celebrates 20th anniversary

7 June 2018
Bundesnetzagentur requires mobile network operator to submit contract for access to regulated wholesale roaming services in dispute resolution procedure

19 June 2018
Agreement on key elements for VHF antenna access accompanied by former Minister Friedrich Bohl and Bundesnetzagentur

18 July 2018
Bundesnetzagentur prohibits excessive fixed network porting charges

14 August 2018
Minister Peter Altmaier visits Bundesnetzagentur and presents electricity grid action plan

17 September 2018
Bundesnetzagentur presents draft for 5G spectrum auction

30 October2018
Bundesnetzagentur launches dead spot app

28 November 2018
LÜKEX 18 practises gas deficit situation scenario

2017

17 February 2017
Bundesnetzagentur removes children's doll "Cayla" from market

14 March 2017
Consultation on pro-investment and pro-competitive framework for accelerated fibre network expansion

13 April 2017
Bundesnetzagentur announces successful bids in first auction for offshore wind farms

19 May 2017
Results of first auction for onshore wind installations

2 June 2017
Publication of policy paper on digital transformation in network sectors

28 June 2017
Base level of DB Netz AG's costs for first regulatory period set

3 July 2017
Launch of SMARD electricity market data platform

4 July 2017
Communication on discrepancies in fixed broadband speeds

18 July 2017
First decisions under Digital Networks Act

15 December 2017
Aspects of Telekom's "StreamOn" add-on option prohibited

2016

15.06.2016
Bundeskabinett beschließt die Transparenzverordnung der Bundesnetzagentur für den Telekommunikationsbereich

29.06.2016
Abschaltung von 300 Ortsnetzrufnummern, mit denen Ortsnähe des Unternehmens vorgetäuscht wurde

29.06.2016
Festlegung des Entgelts für die Nutzung der Teilnehmeranschlussleitung (10,02 €)

26.07.2016
Bundesnetzagentur untersagt „Impulspost“ und erklärt Entgelte für unwirksam

01.09.2016
Bundesnetzagentur gibt Entscheidung zu Vectoring II bekannt

12.10.2016
Festlegung der Eigenkapitalzinssätze für den Strom- und Gasbereich (6,91 bzw. 5,12 Prozent)

2015

21 January 2015
Bundesnetzagentur presents report evaluating incentive regulation in energy sector

29 April 2015
Results of first auction for ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installations

19 June 2015
Digital Dividend 2 auction ends (auction proceeds: €5.08bn)

12 August 2015
Bundesnetzagentur publishes IT security requirements catalogue for energy supply networks

25 September 2015
Bundesnetzagentur launches broadband speed test website

4 December 2015
Standard letter rate from January 2016 at 70 cents

2014

19 February 2014
Bundesnetzagentur imposes fines for breaches of supplier switching rules

1 May 2014
Dr Wilhelm Eschweiler becomes Vice President

5 August 2014
Bundesnetzagentur receives first federal sectoral planning application

23 October 2014
Decision taken in first proceedings on allocating offshore connection capacity

12 November 2014
Bundesnetzagentur makes first-time proposal for regional differentiation in market definition and market analysis

5 December 2014
Dr Wilhelm Eschweiler elected Chair of Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) for 2016

2013

11 April 2013
Results of first broadband speed measurement campaign

7 June 2013
Bundesnetzagentur given new responsibilities in electricity grid expansion

29 August 2013
Bundesnetzagentur publishes first vectoring decision

16 September 2013
First reserve power plant requirements confirmed

19 December 2013
First decision on power plant systemic relevance

2012

1 March 2012
Jochen Homann becomes President

12 March 2012
Peter Franke becomes Vice President

18 April 2012
Dr Iris Henseler Unger elected Chair of IRG Rail

3 May 2012
Status report on grid-based energy supply in winter 2011/2012

30 April 2012
First gas network development plan presented

29 May 2012
First electricity network development plan presented during Federal Chancellor's visit

30 August 2012
New rules on free call queues enter into force

21 September 2012
Public dialogue on expanding Germany's electricity grid launched in Bonn

1 October 2012
Standard letter rate from January 2013 at 58 cents

26 November 2012
Coverage obligation from 2010 spectrum auction met nationwide

2011

24 February 2011
Significant reduction in mobile termination rates announced (approx 3.3 ct/min for all networks)

19 April 2011
First guideline on renewable energy feed-in management published

11 May 2011
Bundesnetzagentur's NGA Forum adopts policy document on broadband network interoperability

31 August 2011
Bundesnetzagentur decides reserve nuclear power plant not required

2 November 2011
Rates of return on equity set for electricity and gas network sectors (9.05%/7.14%)

7 December 2011
Scenario framework for first electricity network development plan approved

2010

6 February 2010
Bundesnetzagentur requires DB Netz AG to grant competitors access to operations control centres

27 February 2010
Bundesnetzagentur's first implementing ordinance with rules for efficient sale of renewables enters into force

16 March 2010
Grid control cooperation between German electricity transmission system operators ordered

20 May 2010
Digital Dividend 1 spectrum auction ends (auction proceeds: €4.38bn)

16 June 2010
116 117 number assigned for non-emergency medical on-call service

30 June 2010
First hybrid online letter rates approved

2009

1 January 2009
Incentive regulation for energy sector starts

1 January 2009
Notification requirement for photovoltaic installation operators enters into force

25 February 2009
Partial exemption from network access and rates regulation granted for OPAL gas pipeline

14 April 2009
First two electricity/gas investment budgets approved

13 May 2009
Regulatory strategy for broadband rollout published

3 August 2009
Bundesnetzagentur entrusted with powers to combat cold calling

8 December 2009
Nationwide infrastructure atlas launched

2008

28 February 2008
Bundesnetzagentur celebrates 10th anniversary

13 March 2008
Matthias Kurth elected Chair of group of European telecommunications regulators for 2009

25 April 2008
Binding standards for itemised billing set

29 May 2008
Rules for gas balancing (GABi Gas) published

7 July 2008
First rates of return on equity set for electricity and gas sectors (9.29%/7.56%)

2007

1 February 2007
Johannes Kindler becomes Vice President

27 February 2007
Final report on power cut on 4 November 2006 published

19 March 2007
Automated measuring system for radio equipment emissions put into operation

26 March 2007
Report on social welfare standards in postal regulation law presented

22 June 2007
Guideline on implementation of information unbundling published

28 August 2007
Decision published on business processes and data formats for switching gas supplier (GeLi Gas)

20 December 2007
Deutsche Post AG's statutory exclusive licence for letters weighing up to 50g ends (end of letter monopoly)

2006

1 January 2006
Bundesnetzagentur becomes responsible for rail sector

22 February 2006
Consultation launched on concept of "new market" in telecoms sector

16 May 2006
Inaugural meeting of Rail Infrastructure Advisory Council

8 June 2006
First electricity network tariffs approved (for Vattenfall Europe Transmission GmbH)

30 June 2006
Report on incentive regulation in energy sector published

13 July 2006
Decision published on business processes and data formats for supplying customers with electricity (GPKE)

30 August 2006
First monitoring report for electricity and gas sectors published

30 August 2006
First gas network tariffs approved (for E.ON Thüringer Energie AG and E.ON Mitte AG)

13 September 2006
First regulatory order on IP bitstream access issued

8 November 2006
First mobile termination rates set (approx 8.78 ct/min and 9.94 ct/min)

17 November 2006
Bundesnetzagentur bans gas single capacity booking model

20 November 2006
Bundesnetzagentur objects to DB Station&Service AG's conditions of use for passenger stations

15 December 2006
BWA spectrum auction ends (auctions proceeds: €109.66mn)

2005

29 April 2005
Local loop rate set at €10.65

13 July 2005
Regulatory Authority becomes responsible for energy markets and is renamed Bundesnetzagentur

9 September 2005
Key elements on regulatory treatment of Voice over IP (VoIP) published

24 October 2005
Access conditions for mail consolidators set

1 December 2005
First individual electricity network tariffs approved

2004

1 March 2004
Dr Iris Henseler-Unger becomes Vice President

1 April 2004
Martin Cronenberg becomes Vice President

11 August 2004
First national consultation on draft market definition and market analysis for local loop access

1 December 2004
Price cap for mobile number porting set at €29.95

3 December 2004
Regulatory Authority prohibits sales of terminal equipment precluding preselection

2003

25 April 2003
Call-by-call now introduced for local calls

29 April 2003
Local loop rate set at DM11.80

18 July 2003
General conditions for resale in telecommunications market defined

18 August 2003
Minimum requirements for diallers defined to combat number misuse

19 November 2003
First complete spectrum usage plan published

2002

4 April 2002
Key elements published on spectrum assignment procedure for launching terrestrial digital video broadcasting (DVB-T)

20 June 2002
Transmitter site database for radio equipment launched

12 September 2002
Standard letter rate reduced to 55 cents from January 2003

1 November 2002
Implementation of mobile number portability

13 November 2002
WLAN spectrum at 5 GHz released for general use

2001

9 February 2001
Matthias Kurth becomes President

20 February 2001
First deregulation ruling on prices set by Telekom for calls to Turkey

1 March 2001
Dr Jörg Sander becomes Vice President

30 March 2001
Local loop rate set at DM24.40

4 October 2001
Key elements on approving postage rates in price cap procedure presented

4 October 2001
Conclusions on key elements paper on market definition and dominance in the telecommunications sector

15 October 2001
Decision to introduce element-based charging regime

2000

1 March 2000
Mathias Kurth becomes Vice President

18 August 2000
UMTS spectrum auction ends (auction proceeds: DM99.36bn)

15 September 2000
Access opened up to Deutsche Post AG's network

1999

8 February 1999
First rate for using local loop set at DM25.40

10 March 1999
Conclusions from hearing on regulatory treatment of telecommunications and core networks published

14 April 1999
First analytical cost model presented

9 June 1999
Access opened up to Deutsche Post's PO box facilities

28 October 1999
GSM 1800 spectrum auction (auction proceeds: DM416mn)

23 December 1999
Interconnection rates set for call termination and origination

1998

1 January 1998
Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post (RegTP) established. Appointment of Klaus-Dieter Scheurle as President and Arne Börnsen as Vice President

15 January 1998
Gerhard Harms becomes Vice President

30 January 1998
First decision in price cap procedure on rates set by Telekom

9 March 1998
Provisional determination of rates for using local loop (DM20.65)

17 March 1998
Regulatory Authority's consumer service launched

7 April 1998
First granting of licences in letters market

15 June 1998
Telekom's fees for porting fixed numbers prohibited

19 June 1998
"Regulatory policy guidelines" presented by Specialist Group for Regulatory Issues (WAR)

1997

10 June 1997
Lottery for directory enquiry service numbers and carrier codes

1 July 1997
Decision by the Federal Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications on unbundling the local loop

12 September 1997
First interconnection charges set by the Federal Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications

12 November 1997
Inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council at the Regulatory Authority

17 December 1997
Organisational decree by the Federal Chancellor on dissolving the Federal Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications

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