The district of Goslar in south-eastern Lower Saxony combines seemingly contradictory characteristics. Covering an area of almost 1,000 square kilometers, the region of eight municipalities offers the northernmost mountains in Germany, several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and national parks, but also the recycling of valuable special metals, which – processed into microchips – can be found in almost every cell phone. Awareness of nature, cultural tradition and economic progress are not mutually exclusive in the district of Goslar. With the expansion of broadband, the district is now on its way into the digital future.
The symbolic ground-breaking ceremony for the broadband expansion in the district of Goslar took place on March 7, 2018 in the Bassgeige industrial estate with the participation of District Administrator Thomas Brych and Thomas Wiesenhütter (District Development, Head of the District of Goslar). Goslar is one of the first four regions in Lower Saxony in which nationwide Internet expansion is being implemented.
“Fast internet connections have become an integral part of our lives”
The federal government is subsidizing the infrastructure expansion project in the district of Goslar with almost 550,000 euros as part of the federal broadband funding programme. The district is also receiving co-financing from the state of Lower Saxony amounting to over 800,000 euros from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The district and local authority are contributing around 150,000 euros of their own funds to the expansion of the broadband network. The funding amount serves to cover a profitability gap between the costs incurred for the broadband expansion and the expected income from it.
In his speech at the ground-breaking ceremony, District Administrator Thomas Brych emphasized the immense importance of broadband expansion: “Fast Internet connections have become an integral part of our lives – both privately and in business. They are an important and indispensable locational advantage for many companies.” He thanked Thomas Wiesenhütter from the district of Goslar and everyone involved in the infrastructure project for their support. The work is due to be completed in spring 2019, connecting around 3,500 households, 260 companies, a school, a hospital and a further 34 administrative buildings in the rural regions to the network. Most of these will then have internet speeds of 50 Mbit/s and higher. Three companies will even be supplied with Internet speeds of more than 1 Gbit/s. Businesses located far away from the cities will also be connected to the latest technology.
Progress is a tradition in the region
The high-performance broadband infrastructure will particularly benefit the companies located in the Bassgeige industrial estate, which are predominantly medium-sized businesses and provide work for over 5,000 people. The development of the Bassgeige industrial estate began back in the early 1960s and is an example of the region’s spirit of progress: in 1963, the first companies settled on the site, which is conveniently connected to the railroad line and main road.
Since then, the 150-hectare industrial estate has grown continuously and, in addition to around 300 companies, also offers a school center a strong economic and educational area. The fact that nature and industrial progress do not have to be mutually exclusive is demonstrated by three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the district of Goslar: in addition to the historic old town of Goslar, which reflects the history and tradition of bygone times with over 1,500 half-timbered houses from different eras, the Rammelsberg mine and the Upper Harz water management system symbolize industrial progress right up to the modern age. The Rammelsberg ore mine is the only mine in the world to have been in continuous operation for over 1,000 years and documents many examples of mining history over this immense period. With its wealth of almost 30 million tons of ore, Rammelsberg, which was shut down in 1988, shaped the development of the town of Goslar and helped it to achieve economic prosperity. Ore mining also shaped the landscape of the region.
The transnational Harz National Park around the 1,000-metre-high Brocken was only created in 2006 through the merger of the Harz National Park of the same name in Lower Saxony and the Hochharz National Park in Saxony-Anhalt. As the Harz was partially deforested by ore mining in the 18th century, fast-growing spruce trees were chosen for reforestation. Today, conifers make up over 80 percent of the forests. These are just as typical of the national park as its raised bogs, which are of international importance due to their pristine nature and very well-preserved condition. Not only the entrepreneurs and residents of the district of Goslar will benefit from fast Internet, but also visitors to the Harz Mountains. This will strengthen the future viability of the region.
Photo above: Aerial view of the Bassgeige industrial estate
Photo credit: City of Goslar
Photo below: Rammelsberg mine
Photo credit: Raymond Faure