On Tuesday 25 May, the European Commission approved a 2.1 billion euros German aid scheme to support the deployment, operation and access to high-performance mobile infrastructure in areas served only by 2G or lower speed networks.
For Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for Competition Policy, the support will “bring about significant mobile network capacity and availability in currently underserved areas in Germany”.
The aid will support the provision of high-performance mobile services based on LTE (Long Term Evolution- 4G mobile communications standard) technology and next generation mobile network technologies, including 5G, which will enable high-speed internet connections.
Public support will take the form of grants to companies that build and operate passive infrastructure for voice and mobile data services (masts, ducts, dark fibre). Mobile network operators, specialist construction companies and fibre optic companies will be able to benefit.
Infrastructure support will be provided in areas where mobile networks have not been deployed or where mobile networks only capable of supporting 2G mobile services and below are available and where no private operator is planning to deploy 4G and higher mobile networks in the near future. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)