Despite the coronavirus crisis and the onset of winter, the expansion of fiber optics is also making great strides in spring, as demonstrated by the 14 groundbreaking ceremonies in eight federal states that took place last March alone. These expansion projects were subsidized with a total of around 119 million euros with the help of federal broadband funding from the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). With this funding and supplementary state funding programs, the BMVI and the federal states are creating the basis for nationwide and future-proof broadband coverage in Germany.
In three locations in Brandenburg alone – in the districts of Barnim, Oberhavel and Potsdam-Mittelmark – the future high-speed Internet supply of over 21,000 households, almost 380 companies and almost 200 institutional customers was initiated with groundbreaking ceremonies.
Groundbreaking ceremonies also took place in Lower Saxony: in the county of Bentheim and in the districts of Aurich and Rotenburg (Wümme). This means that a total of around 19,000 households, almost 1,400 companies and over 170 institutional customers will receive a future-proof fiber optic connection.
Two further dates in North Rhine-Westphalia marked the start of the expansion work with sustainable fiber optic technology for over 200 households and 4 schools: The groundbreaking ceremonies took place in the district of Lippe and in the city region of Aachen.
Noticeable broadband progress in Saxony too: on two dates in the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge and in the district of Görlitz, almost 220 households, more than 40 companies and one institutional customer will be supplied with gigabit fiber optics once the construction work is complete.
But groundbreaking ceremonies also took place in other regions: For example, in the Probstei district (Schleswig-Holstein), the Traunstein district (Bavaria), the Weimarer Land district (Thuringia) and the Rhine-Neckar district (Baden-Württemberg). This involves the future fiber optic supply of a total of over 7,000 households, almost 1,600 companies and almost 40 institutional customers.
Such groundbreaking ceremonies are of great value to local authorities: they mark the path to ultra-fast Internet and thus to the future gigabit society.
Further information can also be found on our website on the federal broadband funding program.