On September 3, 2019, Tim Brauckmüller, Managing Director of aconium GmbH, Peter Bleser, Member of the German Bundestag, and Norbert Schuldt, Head of Division at the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), handed over a final funding decision for broadband expansion to District Administrator Manfred Schnur, Cochem-Zell.
The federal funding program for broadband expansion has given an additional boost to the expansion of high-speed internet in the Rhineland-Palatinate district. Peter Bleser, Member of the German Bundestag:
“The funding decision that has now been issued enables the district of Cochem-Zell to remain a pioneer in the expansion of digital infrastructure in rural areas. It is an example for many rural regions and shows how a nationwide fiber optic and mobile network expansion can be driven forward with municipal support. The district of Cochem-Zell under the leadership of District Administrator Manfred Schnur, the BMVI and aconium got the project off the ground in an exemplary short time. I am delighted with this success, which will make Cochem-Zell even more attractive.” District Administrator Manfred Schnur:
“In the age of digitalization, the expansion of digital infrastructure is an essential pillar for the future viability of rural areas. We have now reached another important milestone in the district of Cochem-Zell in equipping our municipalities, schools and companies with a high-performance broadband infrastructure. This means that white spots will soon be a thing of the past. Another important building block in this context is the expansion of nationwide mobile communications coverage in order to close dead spots and meet the so-called “5G standards” in the future.” Tim Brauckmüller, Managing Director of aconium GmbH:
“The district of Cochem-Zell is an important business location in Rhineland-Palatinate and is home to a large number of different industries and businesses.
Many digital applications sometimes require high bandwidths and demand high-performance infrastructures – especially in rural areas! This applies to both private households and companies. The nationwide rollout of fiber optic infrastructure is therefore an important milestone for the region. High-performance broadband infrastructure is needed, especially in sparsely populated areas, in order to make the location competitive and attractive for companies and families.” The broadband expansion in Cochem-Zell is being funded with a total of 18.9 million euros in order to connect underserved areas to a high-performance network. The BMVI is funding the project with over eleven million euros, with the state contributing around 5.7 million euros and the district around 1.9 million euros.
The expansion is due to begin at the start of the fourth quarter. As part of the construction measures, 200 kilometers of civil engineering work are planned. In the process, 453 kilometers of fiber optic cable will be laid so that 1,581 households, 48 companies and 32 schools will be connected to high-speed Internet.
Information on the federal broadband funding program