Deutsche Telekom drops fibre‑connection count from KPI list

Zero fibre‑connection metric will stay off Deutsche Telekom’s KPI set, CEO Tim Höttges said on 13 August 2026 at the half‑year press conference in Bonn.

KPI change announced

"Die Zahl der gebauten oder aktivierten Anschlüsse gehört nicht zu den Kennzahlen," Höttges told reporters, confirming that the number of built or activated fibre‑optic connections will no longer be a key performance indicator.

The statement was reported by Handelsblatt on the same day.

Strategic rationale

Höttges added that the goal is no longer to build as many fibre connections as possible, but to generate more customer benefit and economic value per connection. He said future roll‑out will be governed by five target criteria that focus on profitability rather than sheer volume.

Deutsche Telekom (ticker DTEGY, headquartered in Bonn) employs 228,596 staff according to its latest filing with the U.S. SEC (SEC EDGAR).

Implications for investors

Removing the fibre‑connection count from the KPI suite signals a shift from rapid network expansion to a profit‑first approach. Analysts may now weigh capex efficiency and margin outlook more heavily than raw connection numbers.

Competitors such as Vodafone and Orange continue to publish fibre‑connection figures, which could give them a transparency edge in the short term. However, Deutsche Telekom’s larger customer base and cash‑flow generation may allow it to sustain higher profit margins even with a slower rollout.

Investors should watch the next earnings release for guidance on revised capex plans and any impact on the company’s EBITDA margin.

What’s next

Deutsche Telekom will detail the five new target criteria at its full‑year results meeting in early 2027. The regulator Bundesnetzagentur has not yet commented on the KPI change.