The 1st Cuxhaven Broadband Conference, which took place on May 31, 2018, focused on the development of the digital infrastructure in the Cuxhaven region. Around 50 participants accepted the invitation from Enak Ferlemann (Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, BMVI), including mayors of the surrounding municipalities, district representatives, business developers and representatives from telecommunications providers (TDG, Vodafone, EWE, Telefonica) and the Broadband Competence Center of Lower Saxony.
The main topics were the federal broadband funding and the expansion of the mobile network in the northernmost district of Lower Saxony. PSts Ferlemann addressed both areas in his opening remarks. He presented the district of Cuxhaven as an important tourist region and an economically strong rural district that needs good broadband and mobile communications coverage. Ferlemann referred to the special program for commercial areas, which has been providing targeted support for infrastructure projects in commercial and industrial areas and ports as part of the federal broadband funding program since last year.
Dr. Tobias Miethaner, Head of the Digital Society Department at the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), then presented the federal funding program and discussed both the funding for business parks and the funding for future-proof broadband connections for schools and hospitals. Tim Brauckmüller, Managing Director of aconium GmbH, the BMVI’s official project sponsor, explained further details on federal funding and answered numerous questions from participants. On the subject of mobile communications, Miethaner referred to the mobile communications summit announced by the BMVI for July, with which the Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Andreas Scheuer, intends to develop a strategy to close the white spots in mobile communications coverage with the participation of the federal government, federal states and local authorities as well as companies. “We can expect a lot to happen in the area of LTE,” says Miethaner. By the end of 2019, network coverage of freeway and train routes should also be guaranteed across the board. During the subsequent discussion, representatives of the telecommunications companies assured the audience that the expansion of LTE sites was proceeding at a high pace. After a good two hours, the extremely successful event came to an end thanks to good organization and an orderly, pointed discussion.
Photo: 1st Cuxhaven Broadband Conference, 31.05.2018 in Cuxhaven. Standing: Host Enak Ferlemann (Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, BMVI). Photo credit: Office of Enak Ferlemann