German Court Rules 1&1 “Glasfaser-DSL” Advertising Misleading

German consumers should be cautious: a court has found that 1&1’s advertising for so-called “Glasfaser-DSL” (fiber DSL) is misleading. Providers sometimes promote “fiber” technologies even when the final connection into buildings relies on copper or coaxial cables, which offer lower performance than true fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) links.

The ruling highlights a common marketing practice where terms like “Kabel-Glasfaser” or “Koax-Glasfaser” suggest full fiber coverage, while in reality the last mile often remains copper or coax. The court decision reinforces the need for transparent communication about the actual network technology delivered to customers.

• FTTH (Fiber to the Home): Fiber optic cable runs all the way to the residence — highest speeds and reliability.
• FTTB/FTTC (Fiber to the Building/Curb): Fiber reaches a building or street cabinet; the last segment may be copper or coax and can reduce real-world speeds.
• Marketing red flags: Phrases that mix “fiber” with “DSL” or “cable” — check whether the connection to your unit is actually fiber.

What this means for customers: always verify whether an offer provides FTTH or a hybrid connection, ask for end-to-end fiber confirmation, and review contracts for speed guarantees and technology descriptions. Regulators and consumer advocates have pushed for clearer labeling to prevent such confusion.

Further reading: FTTx explanations (Wikipedia) and Bundesnetzagentur (German telecom regulator) for consumer guidance.

Discussion: Have you encountered advertising that called a connection “fiber” but delivered copper or coax to your home? What changes would you like to see in ISP marketing?