Municipal Broadband Loan Lower Saxony
Municipal broadband loan for local authorities in Lower Saxony for the long-term financing of investments in fiber-optic based passive network infrastructure. Loans up to 50% of eligible project costs, terms up to 25 years, up to 7 repayment-free years.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for municipal investments in the expansion of fiber-optic-based passive network infrastructure in underserved areas in Lower Saxony.
Eligible expenses
- Passive network infrastructure components
- Investments in fiber-optic based network infrastructure
Non-eligible expenses
- Active network components
- Measures before loan approval
- Measures that affect free competition according to Art. 107 TFEU
Eligible to apply
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- Municipal authorities in Lower Saxony
- Expansion in white NGA areas with <30 Mbit/s and no planned private development
- Construction of passive network infrastructure (FTTC/FTTB)
- Networks with connections for private and business customers
- Operator provides active network components at own expense
Documents required for application
- Loan application
- Project description (according to template)
- Financing plan
- Technical evaluation by the b|z|n
- Proof of environmental impact assessment or confirmation
- Power of attorney and specimen signature sheet
- SEPA direct debit mandate
- Certified copy of the loan authorization
Description
The Investment and Development Bank of Lower Saxony (NBank) provides long-term, low-interest loans to municipal authorities in Lower Saxony to promote the expansion of fiber-optic based passive network infrastructure in underserved areas. The funding supports the initial rollout in so-called "white NGA spots," where less than 30 Mbit/s is currently available and no commercially viable expansion is planned. The program supports investments in FTTC/FTTB networks with connections for private and business customers. Active network components must be provided at the expense of private operators.
The financing share amounts to up to 50% of eligible project costs, with a term of up to 25 years, including up to seven years of repayment-free periods. Applications can be submitted at any time before the project start. Required documents include a loan application, a project description according to the template, a financing plan, a technical assessment by the Broadband Competence Center Lower Saxony (b|z|n), proof or confirmation of the environmental impact assessment, power of attorney with signature specimens, a SEPA direct debit mandate, as well as a certified copy of the loan authorization. In addition to the general conditions, the provisions of the Lower Saxony Municipal Code and EU state aid regulations must be observed.
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