“We very much welcome the fact that the German government wants to push ahead with digitalization. This is an important step towards emerging stronger from the crisis. In order to accelerate the expansion of fibre optics, which forms the basis for the ongoing digitalization of society and the economy, it is now important to put these announcements into practice. Above all in the form of simplified and digital approval procedures and administrative processes. It is now time for a fiber optic turbo for the administration,” explains BREKO Managing Director Dr. Stephan Albers.
BREKO is very critical of the fact that the new mobile infrastructure company (MIG) to be founded is to be endowed with state funds of EUR 5 billion. “To ensure Germany’s competitiveness, we need fiber optic expansion in the fixed network and, in addition, 5G mobile expansion. This expansion is first and foremost self-funded. It must not be the case that mobile communications companies are now allowed to fulfill their supply requirements and commitments through the back door, so to speak, using taxpayers’ money. This would make a mockery of the instruments of conditions and commitments.”
Background: The EUR 5 billion earmarked for the expansion of mobile communications in the economic stimulus package is not in line with the funding requirements identified by the German government itself in its mobile communications strategy at the end of last year. As part of the German government’s mobile communications strategy, it was assumed that the remaining “white mobile communications spots” would require funding of EUR 1.1 billion for the construction of up to 5,000 mobile communications sites.
Regarding the reduction in bureaucracy and further development of the fiber optic funding program in the fixed network, Albers explains: “We support the announced simplification and acceleration of the procedures. The procedures must become even faster. Where there is no other way, we will also need additional state funding in the coming years, but not with a ‘watering can’, but precisely for the areas that are still underserved. The coronavirus crisis has made it very clear that government funding is needed in areas where the supply of people and companies is particularly poor, partly because of the limited availability of civil engineering resources. Otherwise, they will not be able to benefit from digital opportunities for the foreseeable future. Against the backdrop of significantly reduced public sector revenues, it would also be unacceptable to provide state funding now to areas that already have good broadband coverage. Our proposals for a sensible form of future funding are on the table.”