30/04/24 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 29 April, the Council of the European Union officially validated the final text of the political agreement on the deployment of high-speed networks in the EU (known as the ‘Gigabit Infrastructure Act’ (see EUROPE 13344/5). For their part, MEPs approved the text on 24 April, at the last plenary session in Strasbourg (see EUROPE 13397/18). The regulation aims to simplify and accelerate the deployment of high-speed networks, such as fibre and 5G, to meet Europe’s connectivity goals. It should also make it possible to reduce the high costs of deploying networks and infrastructures, partly linked to the procedures for granting permits, which have been reviewed. The text is due to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will gradually come into force over eighteen months. (IS)