Schweitzer sees high expansion momentum for high-speed Internet
According to Transformation Minister Alexander Schweitzer, Rhineland-Palatinate is in second place among all federal states in terms of the "pace of growth" for fast internet. According to the SPD politician in an interview with the German Press Agency in Mainz, the telecommunications industry had invested around 266 million euros between summer 2022 and summer 2023. "This is the highest figure since we introduced the reporting system in 2018." At the same time, according to the industry, around 2,400 kilometers of new fibre optic lines were laid in the same period - also a record figure.
In addition to this initiative by the companies themselves, the federal government, state and local authorities have invested almost 815 million euros. As of today, the state will take over 313 million euros of this for 54 municipal projects where the private-sector expansion would not work on its own. This should connect 146,000 new households. "Broadband expansion will result in digital participation for everyone, everywhere, no matter how old they are," said Schweitzer, who has also been a member of the federal SPD party executive since 2017.
Schweitzer reported that the pace of expansion is also leading to complaints in some places because many cables have been laid and roads dug up in many places. "There is no other infrastructure project - road or rail expansion - that requires the same level of dynamism and investment volume as broadband expansion."
The high investment from the telecommunications industry in fast internet infrastructure, as highlighted by Schweitzer, is closely monitored by the federal government. Despite the progress, there have been instances where the rapid expansion of Internet networks has led to inconveniences in certain areas, requiring coordination between the government and private sectors.
Source: www.dpa.com
