Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport:
“With our gigabit strategy, we want to achieve a digital breakthrough for Germany. Working from home, streaming on the ICE and reception in mountain huts must finally be possible without any problems. To achieve this, we need high-performance digital infrastructures everywhere, i.e. fiber to the home and the latest mobile communications standard. We are now creating the conditions to make the expansion faster and more efficient. For me, one thing is very clear: digital is better, because it creates more participation, more opportunities and more progress for everyone. We are tackling this now.” In addition to the acceleration and digitalization of approval procedures, nationwide mobile coverage by 2026 and increased incentives for private-sector expansion, other important steps and measures for efficient infrastructure expansion are anchored in the strategy. Furthermore, the gigabit land register is intended to ensure greater transparency, promote the increased use of alternative laying techniques in fiber optic expansion and counteract the shortage of skilled workers. Broadband funding also remains an important part of the federal government’s strategy to achieve the infrastructure goal of fiber optics across the country. With the elimination of the take-up threshold, all households that do not yet have a gigabit-capable connection and where the market is not active will be eligible for funding from the beginning of 2023 as part of the approval of the gigabit funding program in grey areas under state aid law. You can find out more about the funding program here. As a first milestone, half of all households are to be supplied with fiber optic connections by 2025. By 2030, this should then be possible nationwide right into the home (FTTB/H). Read the entire gigabit strategy on the BMDV website.