No other company can legally lay cable in the same areas as these companies. Same "natural monopoly" deal that governs the electric, phone, and water utilities.
That being said, I don't think that's true in Germany (where the balance in your bank account is pretty much the only limiting factor for getting some cables into the ground) and still the ISP market is not to doing too well. Regional ISPs are pretty much the only ones capable of delivering a decent service (if you are lucky enough to live close to one).
reply