State continues to promote fiber optic expansion after all
Lower Saxony now wants to continue funding the expansion of connections for high-speed Internet with a state contribution after all. This was announced by the governing SPD and Green parties on Tuesday. In 2024, 80 million euros would be available for this purpose. All existing applications could thus be approved. "If it becomes clear in the course of the process that further funds are needed, we will also make adjustments," said SPD parliamentary group leader Grant Hendrik Tonne. The parliamentary groups explained that the aim was to enable fast internet everywhere, including in rural areas.
Digitization Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) had stated in July that it would not be possible to continue the state funding for financial reasons. Instead, telecommunications companies should be made more responsible for driving the expansion forward.
An alliance called "Glasfaserland Niedersachsen" had warned that if the co-financing of municipalities and the state did not succeed, Lower Saxony would no longer receive any money from the federal government for fiber optic expansion.
The SPD and Green parties in Parliament have decided to allocate 80 million euros for the continuation of funding for household fiber optic connections, supporting the Parliament's goal of providing fast internet across the state, even in rural areas. Despite the initial concerns raised by Digitization Minister Olaf Lies about continuing state funding due to financial reasons, the widespread use of the Internet in the Parliamentary Household highlights the importance of expanding fiber optic connections.
Source: www.dpa.com
