Government Presents Plans for Broadband Expansion

The applicants of the third "OpenNet" call for proposals will be informed of the decisions immediately, a spokesperson for Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ) told the APA. According to a ministry release, the funding is mainly intended to support municipalities in Carinthia, Upper Austria, and Styria, where the availability of fixed, gigabit-capable broadband is still relatively low.

Broadband Expansion: No Changes in Further Funding

The broadband funding "Broadband Austria 2030" consists of four programs ("OpenNet", "Access", "Connect", and "GigaApp") each with different goals and target groups. There are no changes - including in terms of budget - to the two remaining calls for proposals for the "Connect" and "GigaApp" programs, according to the spokesperson.

"The digital divide between urban and rural areas is being reduced and the economy is being stimulated, as approximately 80 percent of the funding goes into civil engineering," emphasized Babler, the minister responsible for broadband expansion, highlighting the benefits of the funding. State Secretary Alexander Pröll (ÖVP) also emphasized the economic benefits. "We are investing specifically where it is not profitable for the private sector to ensure that the last white spots on the map disappear."

Funding for Broadband Expansion Secures Jobs

For the President of the Association of Municipalities, Johannes Pressl (ÖVP), the funding "triggers at least twice the investment volume. This strengthens regional businesses, secures jobs, and brings value creation directly to the regions." The federal chairman of the Construction and Woodworkers Union (GBH), Josef Muchitsch (SPÖ), speaks of an important signal - "not only for the digital future of Austria but also for our employees in civil engineering."

About a month ago, telecommunications network operators A1, Magenta, and "Drei" expressed criticism of the state broadband funding. 2.4 billion euros have been invested, but only about eight percent of broadband connections are based on fiber optic technology.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.