The German network operators fear that the planned funding for broadband expansion in so-called “gray spots” will backfire and are calling on the federal government to change course. In the previous plans of the federal government, an “uncontrolled ‘run’ of the municipalities and districts on the funding” is to be feared, which threatens to slow down the desired FTTH expansion, according to a letter from the professional associations Anga, Bitkom, Breko and VATM to representatives the federal government and responsible state ministers.

The federal government wants to push broadband expansion. The declared goal is the nationwide expansion with gigabit networks by the year 2025. Only fiber optics should be eligible for funding. With the blessing of the EU Commission, the federal government now wants to expand funding to regions in which bandwidths of up to 100 Mbit / s are available (” Gray spots “). From 2023 areas should also be eligible for funding in which 200 Mbit / s are already available.

“Targeted and well-dosed” The four associations, whose members claim to be responsible for the expansion of more than 90 percent of the nationwide fiber optic and gigabit connections are responsible, would like a more targeted control of the funding. In principle, the self-economic expansion must be “maximally favored and supported”, write the associations in their fire letter, which heise online is available. The funding should only take effect “in a targeted and well-dosed manner” where nobody wants to build.

While the extension of the eligibility to 100 MBit / s is “politically understandable” and, under certain conditions, could represent a “sensible entry”, is already preparing for 2023 Planned expansion to 200 Mbit / s the company “big concern”. This would mean that around 14 million households and business locations would be eligible for funding “in one fell swoop”: “The result would be an uncontrolled ‘run’ by the municipalities and districts on the funding . ”

The associations warn that the boom in funding means that the already scarce civil engineering capacities will be in greater demand and therefore more expensive. Other resources in planning offices and at the licensing authorities would also be strained. This goes hand in hand with a “significant displacement of network operators’ own expansion activities”. In addition, the rapid development of the subsidy market would also lead to a short-term need for additional workers, which would then have to be cut again.

“Intelligent control logic” “As a result” the expansion of fiber optic networks into buildings and apartments (FTTB / H) not accelerated by the planned promotion of the “gray spots”, but even slowed down, warn the network operators and demand an “intelligent control logic in the form of a graduated and staggered system in the upcoming gray spots program”. This includes limiting the annual funding volume to a healthy level, concentrating “on primarily underserved areas” and expanding it to areas above 100 Mbit / s only from 2025.

The associations estimate that there are currently around 6 million households outside the cable network areas with bandwidths of less than 100 Mbit / s are supplied. Supplying these households should “represent the focus of funding activities for the next few years” instead of an uncontrollable “run” on more attractive funding areas. In areas where fiber optic expansion is already taking place or is specifically planned, households that are not economically viable should be given preference.

(vbr)