Funding to Support the Expansion of Gigabit Telecommunications Networks in the Federal Republic of Germany – Federal Gigabit Guideline 2.0 (Gigabit-RL 2.0)

The Federal Gigabit Directive 2.0 (Gigabit-RL 2.0) promotes the nationwide expansion of high-performance broadband networks in areas where private deployment is not economically viable. Eligible applicants include territorial authorities such as municipalities, city-states, districts, municipal associations, as well as companies under exclusively public ownership. In underserved regions, passive infrastructures, planning, and consulting services are supported with a funding rate of 50% to 70% of eligible expenses. Funding of up to EUR 100 million per project is possible. A higher rate applies to municipalities with low economic strength to specifically close digital supply gaps and advance equal participation of all regions. Applications are submitted within the framework of separate funding calls, with deadlines varying depending on the call.

Eligible expenses include, among others, the construction of fiber optic lines, the establishment of passive networks, as well as detailed planning and expert consulting for quality assurance. The evaluation of projects is based on a nationwide uniform catalog of criteria focusing on catch-up needs, synergy utilization, digital participation in rural areas, and inter-municipal cooperation. For certain federal states, the project sponsors are PwC GmbH WPG and aconium GmbH, who support applicants throughout all procedural steps. Combining this funding with other federal or EU funds is possible, ensuring flexible financing of tailored gigabit solutions.