Brussels, 14/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - The German telecommunications regulatory authority announced on Wednesday that Deutsche Telekom had to open , as quickly as possible, its broad band networks - including its VDSL (very high speed internet access) networks - to its competitors, unless it could show that these networks offered new products which, otherwise, would not be available, according to Reuters. Something the German operator has not done until now. The Bundesnetzagentur has, therefore, ordered Deutsche Telekom to allow access to its networks under non-discriminatory conditions, and set a deadline of three months for Deutsche Telekom to propose standard prices reflecting the costs incurred in setting up the networks. About three weeks ago, the European Commission approved the regulatory measures envisaged by the German regulator to give new entrants to the market rapid access to final consumers (high speed access) (see EUROPE 9248). The German regulator had had to come back twice before winning Commission approval, its first proposal, which did not include VDSL, being deemed insufficient. Deutsche Telekom, which is currently experiencing financial difficulties, threatened not to continue to invest in VDSL networks, currently available in ten large German cities, if it could not, itself, set an appropriate price to cover its investment. According to the German operator, the regulator's comments show that there is an urgent need to put a new framework in place, exempting investment in new technologies from current regulations. “Otherwise we cannot develop new business areas,” warned a Deutsche Telecom spokesman.