Berlin, 23.01.2025 Today, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) launched this year’s call for gigabit funding. Sven Knapp, Head of the Capital Office at the German Broadband Association (BREKO), explains:

“The fact that the BMDV is publishing the call for gigabit funding as early as possible in the year is understandable, but is also fraught with considerable uncertainty in view of the fact that the provisional budget management is likely to continue for many months to come.

The primary goal of gigabit funding must be to use funding in a targeted manner in municipalities where internet coverage is particularly poor and fiber optic expansion is not possible without state funding in the coming years. In view of the significant reduction in funding compared to 2024, the BMDV should have adjusted the criteria for applications to ensure that funding procedures are only initiated in municipalities that have a realistic chance of being approved. Even last year, 90 percent more funding was applied for than was available. There is now a risk that even more municipalities will submit hopeless applications for funding in 2025.

The new gap closure program introduced in 2024 should also be further developed on the basis of previous experience: Practice has shown that the upper limit of 1 million euros per project is set too low. The overall budget of the gap-filling program – at €40 million, less than four percent of the total funding pot – should also be significantly increased in order to complement self-funded and funded expansion in a targeted manner.

The next federal government should use part of the funding to issue fiber optic vouchers that directly benefit consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).”