Digital Minister Martin Dulig presented the Free State of Saxony’s gigabit strategy “Gigabit expansion 2030: Getting there faster together”. Minister Dulig: “Today we have jointly given the go-ahead for a new dynamic, more speed and even closer cooperation in the area of gigabit expansion. An efficient gigabit infrastructure is the basic prerequisite for a high quality of life for citizens, empowerment for participation in all areas of life and for economic success in the Free State of Saxony. Fiber optics and mobile communications are the lifelines of our modern, digital society and are also key location factors. With this gigabit strategy, we have a clear roadmap to ensure that the Free State of Saxony can be connected nationwide by 2030.”
The gigabit strategy provides, among other things, for the Free State of Saxony to continuously support the self-economic expansion of telecommunications companies’ networks. If this self-economic expansion cannot take place, the expansion will be publicly funded. The supply of a gigabit-capable Internet connection (transmission rates of 1,000 Mbit/s and more) can be provided both by wireline (broadband) and by mobile communications. In addition, potential cost reductions and possible synergies, such as alternative installation methods, are to be exploited more intensively wherever possible. Other objectives include faster application and approval procedures as well as supporting local authorities by providing advice and building up expertise.
From an overall perspective, the strategy is characterized by the principles of technological openness and sustainability. The gigabit strategy also provides for the signing of a trilateral expansion pact. To this end, the Free State is in dialog with the municipalities, districts and the expanding telecommunications and mobile communications companies.
In the presence of Minister of State Dulig, the Managing Director of Mobilfunkinfrastrukturgesellschaft mbH (MIG), Ernst-Ferdinand Wilmsmann, handed over the first funding decision from the federal government as part of the mobile communications funding program for the Free State of Saxony at the Gigabit Summit. DFMG Deutsche Funkturm GmbH will receive more than EUR 628,000 in funding for the construction of a radio mast in the municipality of Thiendorf (district of Meißen). The funding rate is around 98 percent.
MIG Managing Director Ernst-Ferdinand Wilmsmann: “As a ‘local caretaker’, the mobile communications infrastructure company supports the improvement of mobile communications coverage in rural regions. The fact that we will close a ‘white spot’ in the municipality of Thiendorf in the district of Meißen with the first notification for the construction of a subsidized mobile phone mast in the Free State of Saxony is an important signal in this regard. The new mobile communications mast will provide around 50 households with modern mobile communications and also significantly improve the mobile communications coverage of the ‘Königsbrücker Heide’, a popular hiking area. MIG is also active in other areas in the Free State of Saxony in order to close existing “white mobile communications spots”. Mobile coverage can be improved even in locations that are difficult to develop if – as here – all parties involved pull together. MIG is making a significant contribution to this by bringing together network operators, tower companies and local stakeholders.”
Bruno Jacobfeuerborn, CEO of DFMG Deutsche Funkturm GmbH, is also delighted to be building the first subsidized mobile communications mast in Saxony. “Together, we are closing the last dead spots in the Free State of Saxony and driving forward digitalization in rural areas. To this end, we are actively participating in MIG’s tenders – in addition to our regular expansion program of several hundred mobile communications sites per year.”
State Minister Martin Dulig: “Digitalization is taking place at a rapid pace and in all areas of life. That’s why we need to think today about what will be needed in the future in terms of gigabit-capable infrastructures. Today’s summit and its results have shown that this is exactly what we are doing in Bavaria and that we can reach our goal faster together.”
Background
The gigabit strategy is a measure from the overarching digital strategy “sachsen digital 2030: better, faster, secure”. The gigabit strategy was preceded by the broad participation of all Saxon stakeholders in the area of wired broadband and mobile expansion. Telecommunications companies have constitutional priority for the expansion of broadband networks. Since 2013, the Free State of Saxony has been supporting expansion projects with public funds as part of the Digital Offensive Saxony initiative in areas that do not have any supply prospects on their own.
The Mobilfunkinfrastrukturgesellschaft mbH (MIG) is a federally owned company based in Naumburg/Saxony-Anhalt that reports to the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport. Among other things, it is responsible for the implementation of the federal mobile communications funding program and acts as a “local caretaker” as a neutral mediator at local level.
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Further links
👉 www.smwa.sachsen.de
Photo: Press Office/SMWA
