Unitymedia may set up WLAN hotspots on customer routers without consent

At the beginning of 2016, Unitymedia informed its customers that it would activate a separate Wi-Fi signal to create a nationwide Wi-Fi network that would give third parties (not just the customer) access to the Internet. In the opinion of the BGH, setting up a hotspot without the customer’s consent does not constitute unlawful harassment within the meaning of competition law. The undisturbed use of the router by the customer is neither impaired by the activation of the second WLAN signal nor by its operation. Customers’ legally protected interests were not infringed in the course of activating the second Wi-Fi signal(press release of the BGH on the ruling of 25.04.2019, ref.: I ZR 23/18).