Bautzen relies on fast networks: Broadband expansion starts in 22 municipalities!

Bautzen relies on fast networks: Broadband expansion starts in 22 municipalities!

Finally there is light at the end of the tunnel for internet demands in the Bautzen district! The Bautzen district council has decided to further expand the broadband network, a step that will de facto bring 8,300 households with fast internet “within reach”. This initiative is 100 percent funded by a federal program and Saxon state funding for gigabit-capable broadband networks. A real gain for the region, which has often been let down by conventional internet connections, as saechsische.de reports.

The project includes several clusters, with the current focus being clusters 12 and 15. Cluster 12 serves a total of 4,700 addresses in municipalities such as Elstra, Königsbrück and Kamenz, while Cluster 15 reaches 3,600 households in Bernsdorf, Elsterheide and Laußnitz. All affected places are struggling with serious shortages. The expansion is scheduled to begin in 2025 and be completed by 2030, which will enhance the region across the board.

Gigabit Policy 2.0

The whole thing runs under the “Gigabit Guideline 2.0”, which specifically takes areas with an internet speed of less than 200 Mbit/s (symmetrical) or 500 Mbit/s into account in the download. Despite the great need, not all providers dare to expand this market. The contract was therefore awarded to the Cologne-based company GlasfaserPlus, which was the only bidder remaining in the tender. The costs for the entire expansion amount to around 35.5 million euros and include around 360 kilometers of civil engineering work and 1,750 kilometers of fiber optic cable laying. So there's a lot going on in the district!

According to the Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), Germany should be covered with fiber optics nationwide by 2030. The Gigabit Promotion 2.0 support program particularly benefits regions where economic expansion is not possible. Calls for funding have already been launched for 2025 to underline the urgency of this initiative. Applications can be submitted by local authorities and publicly owned companies, an initiative that shows that something is happening! bmv.de emphasizes that there are also recommendations for applicants that show how they can optimize the chances of success of their applications.

More transparency required

But it's not just the technology that's crucial. A recent survey shows that many homeowners would like more information about the benefits, costs and effort of such a broadband connection. A third of those surveyed live in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the results are clear: people want a transparent explanation of the benefits and the exact costs in order to be able to make informed decisions. A fast internet connection is increasingly seen as standard, even if not all households currently see the need. These results were developed in collaboration with the BMVI and are a clear indication of the need for an open communication policy, as bundesregierung.de makes clear.

The Bautzen district is on the way to a digital future that will bring far-reaching changes for local companies and their competitiveness. It will be exciting to see how this initiative develops and what positive influence it can have on the economy and quality of life of citizens. We can look forward to the next few years, in which broadband expansion will certainly bring with it some challenges, but above all it will also open up great opportunities.