Euro Commish OKs €3bn German broadband aid scheme

Germany has got the green light from the European Commission to push ahead with a publicly funded scheme to roll out next generation access (NGA) broadband networks.

The €3bn project is to provide high speed internet access throughout the country, including in rural areas.

“This aid scheme will make faster broadband services available in areas of Germany where private investment is lacking. At the same time it ensures that consumers have a choice,” said EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager.

Private operators and municipalities can submit a bid online before the end of September at www.breitbandausschreibungen.de for the cash, which will be spent in seven areas where only basic broadband access is currently available.

The plan is to establish networks that are capable of delivering download speeds of at least 30Mbit/s (megabits per second), and in most cases 50Mbit/s, to households and businesses. ®