Expansion of Gigabit-Capable Broadband Infrastructures (Gigabit Directive)
The Free State of Thuringia provides grants for the expansion of gigabit-capable broadband infrastructures in Thuringia, including fiber optics, civil engineering, and WLAN offerings in public spaces. Funding rates up to 75%, and up to 100% for central applications. Applications can be submitted at any time.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for the expansion of a reliable, high-performance, and gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure in the Free State of Thuringia as a foundation for the further digitalization of the economy and society.
Eligible expenses
- Installation of empty conduits
- Procurement of fiber optic cables
- Civil engineering services
- Provision of shafts and distributors
- Concurrent laying of empty conduits
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Non-eligible expenses
- Costs for infrastructure facilities without non-discriminatory access
- Land acquisition costs
- Pure upgrading of existing networks with additional active components
- Private sector joint laying for private sector expansion measures
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- Implementation of the project in the Free State of Thuringia
- Completion of a market exploration procedure to exclude market-driven supply in the next 3 years
- Development area without existing network with at least 100 Mbit/s download speed
- For municipalities, selection of final beneficiaries in a public, transparent, and non-discriminatory procedure
- Use of existing infrastructures for expansion wherever possible
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Documents required for application
- Application form
- Market research report
- Proof of selection procedure
Description
The Free State of Thuringia promotes the nationwide expansion of gigabit-capable broadband infrastructures through the Gigabit Directive. The goal is to create a high-performance, reliable data connection as a foundation for the ongoing digitalization of the economy and society. Grants of up to 75% of eligible expenses – and up to 100% for central applicants – support fiber optic installations, civil engineering services, as well as the joint installation of empty conduits and the provision of shafts, distributors, and termination devices. Additionally, free WLAN hotspots in public spaces are subsidized with up to 80%, provided they are permanently and non-discriminatorily accessible. Eligible applicants include municipal authorities, privately organized companies under public ownership, as well as public-law enterprises and institutions implementing the expansion of gigabit-capable networks in Thuringia.
A prerequisite for funding is the conduct of a market exploration procedure to exclude market-driven supply within the next three years and the existence of a development area without reliable 100 Mbit/s download speeds. Existing infrastructures should be used wherever possible, and the selection of end beneficiaries must be transparent and non-discriminatory. Eligible expenses include, among others, the laying of empty conduits, procurement of fiber optic cables, civil engineering services, as well as the establishment and expansion of WLAN hotspots. Private joint installations within the framework of public expansion measures are permitted but not eligible for funding. Applications can be submitted at any time to the Thuringian Development Bank, with the completed application form, market exploration report, and proof of the selection procedure to be submitted.
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