At the third ground-breaking ceremony in the district of Emsland on April 23, the positive mood of all those involved was once again palpable. In addition to District Administrator Reinhard Winter, State Secretary Stefan Muhle (Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour, Transport and Digitalization), Member of the Bundestag Gitta Connemann, State Parliament Vice President Bernd Busemann and, on behalf of all the mayors of the northern expansion area, joint municipality mayor Hermann Wocken (Dörpen), representatives of the contracted telecommunications company and Stefan Molkentin (Regional Manager aconium, sovereign project sponsor of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, BMVI) took part in the event.
A total of over 7,000 households, 189 companies and 70 institutional customers in the 35 municipalities are to benefit from network access with transmission rates of at least 50 Mbit/s. The northern expansion area includes the city of Papenburg and the joint municipalities of Werlte, Sögel, Nordhümmling, Dörpen and Lathen with their respective member municipalities as well as the municipality of Rhede. “Broadband is today’s location factor,” said Stefan Molkentin at the event in Heede. “The expansion of gigabit networks will be the basis for the prosperity and economic development of entire regions.”
In addition to the Central and Southern funding areas, the foundation stone has now also been laid in northern Emsland to expand rural areas in the district of Emsland in a future-oriented manner to meet the needs of citizens and companies. The federal government is providing around 11.16 million euros for the northern district as part of the federal broadband funding program. Furthermore, the total funding of 22.32 million euros for the infrastructure project will be supplemented with around 10.08 million euros in own funds and around 1 million euros in third-party funds. In the course of the broadband expansion, 239 kilometers of civil engineering work will be carried out and over 272 kilometers of empty conduits will be laid.
While the focus at the kick-off events in the Central and Southern expansion areas was on rural communities, this third ground-breaking ceremony in the Heeder industrial area focused on businesses. “An outdated Internet connection is a knock-out criterion today when it comes to setting up a business or buying a private property,” emphasized District Administrator Reinhard Winter. “Our aim is to create a real locational advantage with the new network, which will strengthen the competitiveness of companies and agricultural businesses. At the same time, private households will benefit. We will increase the attractiveness of the living and economic areas and make them fit for the future.”
State Secretary Muhle stated: “Broadband expansion is progressing in Lower Saxony, and Emsland is a locomotive. Our goal over the next few years is to make Lower Saxony the first federal state to be supplied with gigabit-capable connections nationwide. To achieve this, we need further investment. Emsland is setting an example here.” Muhle held out the prospect of further funding, which should be provided in consultation with the federal government.
Photo (l-r): Bernd Wilhelm from the telecommunications company carrying out the work, Stefan Molkentin (aconium), State Secretary Stefan Muhle, District Administrator Reinhard Winter, Member of the Bundestag Gitta Connemann, Mayor Hermann Wocken (Dörpen) and State Parliament Vice President Bernd Busemann at the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony on 23.04.2018 in the district of Emsland.
Photo credit: District of Emsland