Access services - access and rates
As the dominant letter service provider, Deutsche Post AG (DP AG) is required to offer network access for competitors.
Figure 1: Network structure in the postal sector (Bundesnetzagentur's own chart)
The term "network" can mean service networks as well as physical network infrastructure. In the postal sector, the physical component is limited to hubs, especially mail centres. The hubs are connected by service structures, as a result of which the postal sector is less capital-intensive and more personnel-intensive. Personnel (e.g. for transport and delivery) is therefore a crucial element for a postal company.
Report on access services
Mail volume on the letters market consists of private and business mail. Under certain circumstances, business mail consignors can drop off their mail items at DP AG or other postal distribution services themselves either as large volume mailers or through a service provider, referred to as a mail consolidator. As only part of DP AG's network is used in these cases, this is referred to as access mail. As far as the Bundesnetzagentur is aware, the most significant share of mail volume is generated by access mail.
Given the significance of access mail for the letters market, the Bundesnetzagentur publishes a report on the terms and conditions and rates for large volume mail and mail consolidation; the first report was published in 2019. The aim of the report is to achieve greater transparency of the terms and conditions and rates for access mail. It shows the rate trends for large volume mail and mail consolidation, what is required to prepare items as access mail for DP AG's basic products and the structures and market players in the business mail segment.
Report 2023 - Terms and Conditions and Rates for Large Volume Mail and Mail Consolidation on the Letters Market (pdf / 927 KB)
Report 2022 - Terms and Conditions and Rates for Large Volume Mailers and Mail Consolidators on the Letters Market (pdf / 956 KB)