Fiber optic expansion in NRW is picking up speed
Bonn/Berlin 18.11.2020 Today’s NRW Gigabit Summit clearly shows that the expansion of fast Internet in NRW is picking up speed. It is clear that the majority of the fiber optic expansion in the densely populated federal state is being driven by the forty BREKO companies active there, including local and regional network operators as well as national telecommunications providers. A significant proportion of the projects are being implemented without the use of taxpayers’ money. Expressed in figures, this means that the BREKO companies have invested 1.5 billion euros in fiber optic expansion in NRW over the last three years. They plan to invest over 550 million euros in 2021.
This makes it clear that there is no shortage of money for the expansion of the high-speed network. This is because the willingness to invest is also matched by high demand from consumers and companies. BREKO CEO Stephan Albers explains: “We currently have a take-up rate of 42% for fiber optics – and the trend is rising. This reflects a high level of interest in fiber optic connections. People in NRW have recognized that a fibre optic connection is important – for their companies, for a functioning home office and for their children in schools. Our companies are ready to meet this demand.”
Self-funded projects are accelerating the expansion of fiber optics. This is because publicly funded projects take longer and are more costly for cities and municipalities. In order to connect as many citizens and companies as possible to high-speed Internet as quickly as possible, funding measures must continue to be limited to areas where expansion by companies is not possible in the medium term. “We very much welcome the fact that NRW is prioritizing self-business expansion. The state government is thus setting the right course to bring NRW a big step forward in fiber optic expansion compared to the rest of Germany. The state should also use its strong voice at federal level in the ongoing consultations on future gigabit funding. As a positive example of efficient, self-sufficient expansion, it should advocate that subsidies are first used in regions where the supply situation is still particularly poor,” emphasizes Albers.
In order to use the existing momentum and further accelerate the expansion, it is very important to provide cities and municipalities with the necessary personnel and technical resources. “We need even more digitalization power in the administration in order to establish simpler and therefore faster approval procedures. The state government should provide the necessary funds for this as quickly as possible, which will benefit citizens once fibre-optic expansion has been completed and further digitization measures have been implemented in the cities and municipalities,” appeals BREKO boss Albers.