A German court has ruled that a subsidiary of Meta Platforms must pay Deutsche Telekom about €30 million, equivalent to roughly $36 million, for network services linked to internet traffic generated by Facebook and Instagram.
The ruling follows a long-running dispute over the use of Deutsche Telekom’s network infrastructure, specifically private interconnection or “peering” points where large volumes of data enter the telecom operator’s system. The court found that the services were provided over a period of more than three years without valid compensation.
Brandspur Brand News understands that the case centred on whether a binding commercial arrangement existed after the expiration of an earlier contract between the two companies. Deutsche Telekom argued that Meta’s subsidiary, Edge Network Services, continued to use its private network access points even after the original agreement lapsed, effectively creating a paid service relationship.
Meta’s unit countered that the arrangement amounted to settlement-free peering, a common industry practice where companies exchange data without financial compensation. The court, however, sided with Deutsche Telekom, concluding that the continued use of its infrastructure justified payment for services rendered.
The decision strengthens the position of European telecom operators, which have long argued that major technology companies should contribute financially to the expansion and maintenance of high-capacity broadband networks due to the scale of traffic their platforms generate.
Big Tech firms, including Meta and Google, have consistently pushed back against such claims, citing net neutrality principles that require equal treatment of all data traffic without additional charges based on content or source.
Meta has expressed disagreement with the ruling and said it is reviewing its legal options. Under German law, Edge Network Services may file a complaint with the Federal Court of Justice within one month of receiving the full judgement, after the lower court declined to allow a direct appeal.
The case is being closely watched across Europe, as it could influence future regulatory and commercial debates over how network costs are shared between telecom operators and large digital platforms.
