On May 25, the mobile communications funding guideline of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure was approved by the European Commission. This means that 1.1 billion euros in funding can now be used for the nationwide expansion of up to 5,000 mobile communications sites. The European Commission considers the funding guideline to be in line with the EU’s strategic objectives set out in the communication “Towards a European Gigabit Society”.

The new funding program is intended to support the expansion, operation and provision of access to passive infrastructure (masts, empty conduits, switched fibre optics) in areas currently covered by GSM networks at most, for which no self-funded expansion has been announced by the mobile network operators. In such regions, the new funding measure can be used to provide LTE mobile communications or even more powerful mobile communications technologies, such as 5G. Market exploration procedures are to be completed in July of this year so that funding can be initiated for the first underserved areas. Possible beneficiaries are mobile network operators, specialized construction companies and fibre optic companies, which are to be identified via tendering procedures based on transparent criteria. Beneficiary companies must grant all interested mobile network operators open and non-discriminatory access to the newly constructed infrastructure. Operational support and implementation of mobile communications funding will be carried out by the newly founded state-owned Mobilfunkinfrastrukturgesellschaft mbH (MIG).

In particular, MIG is to provide support in the search for, preparation and approval of sites, as the search for suitable sites in underserved areas often proves to be difficult and lengthy for market participants. This includes coordinating with mobile network operators to find suitable search areas, identifying potential plots of land for siting, preparing approval procedures and engaging in dialog with local authorities to find a mutually acceptable solution for all parties involved in and affected by the expansion. The funded passive infrastructure and the mobile services provided with it cannot be taken into account for current or future mobile coverage requirements resulting from the allocation of frequency licenses.