FTTH Council Europe welcomes the newly adopted Connecting Europe Broadband Fund

A New broadband fund of at least 500 million euros has been announced today to contribute to delivering an inclusive Gigabit Society for Europe and prevent a new Gigabit-divide from the outset.

The FTTH Council Europe applauds the establishment of the new fund with the aim of fostering very high-capacity broadband infrastructure deployment throughout Europe. We urge the fund to invest in future-proof fibre-based networks in the long-term interest of European citizens and businesses. The Connecting Europe Broadband Fund will be especially important for supporting smaller, local fibre projects that have a tremendous role in ensuring that all communities are part
of the Gigabit Society.

The ubiquitous availability and wide adoption of fibre networks by end-users and businesses will enable new and innovative technologies while also having a positive impact on job creation and economic growth, in particular in rural communities. Therefore it is of utmost importance that we do not leave anyone behind and prevent a new Gigabit-divide from the outset by fostering futureproof fibre based infrastructure everywhere.

“We very much applaud the agreement reached today on the Connecting Europe Broadband Fund. Europe needs vastly improved network infrastructure in order to become a global
competitive in digital. This fund is an important step fostering investments in fibre-based infrastructure, the only future-proof broadband solution enabling fixed and wireless Gigabitnetworks”, commented Ronan Kelly, President of the FTTH Council Europe. “Lively discussions on creating a Gigabit Society and latest digital technology innovations will be at the heart of the 14th edition of the FTTH Conference, to be held on 14-16 February 2017 in Marseille, France.”