© hMD
How can the expansion of mobile networks and fast internet in Hesse be advanced? This question was the focus of the 14th “Gigabit Summit” hosted by the Hessian Ministry of Digital Affairs on June 27, 2024. Several hundred representatives from the telecommunications industry, state and federal politics as well as network operators and companies came to Wiesbaden for the event.
In her opening speech, Digital Minister Kristina Sinemus emphasized that one year after the adoption of the state government’s “gigabit strategy”, Hesse is doing well in terms of network expansion. The state government’s declared goal of connecting all Hessian households to the fiber optic network for high-speed Internet by 2030 has recently “made significant progress”, she said.
Since 2018 alone, 1.6 million Hessian households could receive additional internet at a speed of at least 1 gigabit per second, putting Hesse in fourth place among the federal states, Sinemus explained. According to the latest figures, 26 percent of households had a genuine fiber optic connection at the end of last year. Compared to the previous year, this represents an increase of ten percentage points. In cooperation with the major providers, it has been possible to “close some white spots” in mobile communications, said Sinemus. However, because Hessen’s topography is difficult for good cell phone reception, “there is still a lot to do”.
As the project sponsor of the funding program for the expansion of gigabit Internet in Hesse, aconium was also represented at the summit. Tim Brauckmüller, Managing Director of aconium GmbH, gave a presentation in the fixed network workshop on the framework conditions for broadband expansion, which are significantly influenced by the gigabit strategy.
The measures to achieve this goal include simplified, accelerated and digitalized approval procedures, the increased use of alternative installation methods, greater transparency through the gigabit land register, the development of a modern European legal framework, combating the shortage of skilled workers in the industry and the creation of information and advisory services.
Tim Brauckmüller used a statistical overview of the gigabit expansion to show that the measures are working. For example, Hesse can provide more than 70 percent of households with broadband across all technologies – a success for a large state like Hesse. At the same time, there are regional differences: While around 86 percent of households in urban areas are covered, the figure in rural areas is 35 percent. The presentation was rounded off with an insight into the federal funding program, the new regulations concerning, for example, sector dialogues and market exploration procedures, and the gap-filling pilot program as an alternative to the standard and fast lane call.
The Gigamap portal of the state of Hesse was presented as a positive example of how self-promoted and subsidized expansion, planning and synergies can be used. The Gigamap portal was developed by aconium and continuously fed with new functions and content. Together with the Gigamap Academy and other support services offered by ekom21, this rounds off support for district coordinators and local authorities.
Parallel to this presentation, a mobile communications workshop was held for primarily municipal representatives. Here, participants were introduced to the new instruments of the Hessian Ministry for Digitalization and Innovation, such as site survey tools, rental price models and the Mobile Communications Academy. With the eLearning offer from the aconium “Shaping mobile communications expansion at municipal level”, Hesse is the first federal state to set up a mobile communications academy. Philipp Brückner, Project Manager at aconium GmbH, presented the details. The course particularly supports local authorities that are contacted by mobile network operators when looking for a site. It offers basic information on mobile radio technology, provides information on how the expansion process works and explains the legal particularities of the approval of mobile radio masts in Hesse. Interested parties can register for the course free of charge at https://www.e-learning.hessen.de/moodle/course/view.php?id=160
Of course, like many other exhibitors, we were also represented with a stand. The Gigabit Summit once again brought the players from business and the public sector together constructively.