The point in time is anchored in the government program, and there are a number of hurdles to get there: by 2030, every corner of Austria should be provided with fast internet. The basis for this is provided by fixed and mobile gigabit connections, which should make it easier for companies and private individuals to find digital connections.
Upper Austria is playing a “pioneering role” in broadband expansion, said State Secretary Florian Tursky (VP) today at a press conference in the Meggenhofen town of Zwisl. The Tyrolean, who is responsible for digitization and broadband agendas in the government, was not sparing in his praise for our state. From the first broadband billion, Upper Austria received 425 million euros in funding, from which 371 municipalities would have benefited, said Tursky. In March, the government approved the first funding call for the second broadband billion; there are 660 million euros available for collection.
“We also want to cut off a large piece of the cake for the second billion,” said Economic Councilor Markus Achleitner (VP). The first projects are to be presented in August. Currently, in 85 percent of the 426,000 buildings in Upper Austria, a wired supply of 100 Mbit/second or more already exists or is planned or under construction. With this speed, it is possible to surf the Internet, stream TV programs or play games online without restrictions.
The remaining 15 percent of the buildings in Upper Austria are mostly in peripheral locations, said Achleitner. The districts of Rohrbach, Freistadt, Braunau am Inn, Vöcklabruck, Gmunden, Kirchdorf and Steyr-Land are particularly affected. This is where the company Broadband Upper Austria (BBOÖ), officially presented in April this year, which arose from the bundling of the fiber optic activities of the state and Energie AG, should come into play. The focus of the type of supply should be fiber optics. This is faster than copper cables or mobile communications, but also more expensive.
Tursky, Achleitner, Energie-AG General Director Werner Steinecker and BBOÖ Managing Director Martin Wachutka pointed out that federal and state subsidies and additional investments by providers will trigger around 1.1 billion euros in investments by 2025. A focus of fiber optic expansion is currently being placed along the former railway line of the “Haager Lies”, which is now a cycle path.
Source: Nachrichten
