On 25 May 2021, the European Commission approved a €2.1 bn German scheme to support a roll-out of high-performance mobile infrastructure in underserved areas in Germany. The German scheme will help areas in Germany that only have access to 2G networks and below, and foster competition by providing access to all network operators.
The scheme helps in achieving the strategic goals set in the EU’s Communication “Towards a European Gigabit Society”. The performance of technologies related to mobile communications is developing at such a pace that they have become crucial technologies for the digital transformation in business and society. However, not all areas in the EU currently have network coverage that meets the expectations of business and society.
The selection of the beneficiaries will be based upon a non-discriminatory, open, transparent and competitive procedure. The Commission has assessed the scheme under EU state rules, in particular under Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the principles stated in the 2013 Broadband Guidelines. The Commission concluded the scheme meets the requirements of the EU State aid rules. Furthermore, the scheme reduces the inequality in digital access in Germany.
For more information on the German scheme, read the full press release here. For more information on advanced technologies in Europe, explore the Advanced Technology for Industry project website.