The expansion of fast internet in Germany is progressing. Until 2025, the majority of the population is expected to have access to a gigabit connection – but not all customers are willing to pay higher costs for it.
What is a gigabit connection necessary for? A gigabit connection is particularly worthwhile if you do not want to wait long for a large download and there are perhaps multiple people streaming 4K movies simultaneously in the house, while others watch videos on YouTube and someone else is still playing an MMO. Nowadays, many gamers buy their games digitally and first have to download several gigabytes before they can play. Also, patches and updates are becoming larger. No one wants to wait long for downloads to finish. With 1,000 Mbit/s (one gigabit) as the download speed, even large files download quickly.
What does fast internet bring for MMORPGs? For gaming itself, a gigabit line is not necessary. Much more important than speed is a stable connection and also the ping, or latency. You can essentially game well with a speed of 1 Mbit/second. However, a ping of 150-200 is problematic in competitive games such as online shooters or PvP-focused MMOs.
How do Germans feel about fast internet? Of course, almost everyone wants fast internet. According to a survey by the industry association Bitkom (where 999 households were surveyed), 62 percent of respondents want faster downloads and 37 percent want faster uploads. 34 percent find it important that the connection is fast enough so that even with many people in one household using the internet at the same time, it does not affect the speed for an individual.
Are Germans also willing to spend more money for fast internet? The crucial point is the price. According to the survey, 42 percent of respondents want fast internet but do not want to spend more money than they currently do. 18 percent are willing to pay less than 10 euros more. 24 percent would even pay up to 20 euros more. On average, the surveyed households are willing to pay 14 euros more if they could get a gigabit connection for that.
How much does a gigabit connection cost? Gigabit connections are expected to be offered this year over cable (Unitymedia or Vodafone) in several cities in Germany. The city of Bochum has already made a start this month. The gigabit connection costs 50 euros for 24 months. After that, 110 euros are due. Deutsche Telekom also offers this speed through a special tariff – but at a price of around 120 euros.
