The EU Broadband Investment Handbook: key resource for developers and investors
The EU Broadband Investment Handbook aims to guide and support entities, especially local and regional authorities, who want to develop and finance broadband projects within the European Union. It promotes social cohesion and economic progress by ensuring broadband infrastructure is developed and maintained in a way that is aligned with the EU's digital single market objectives and regulations.
In this way, the new publication ensures that investments contribute to broader EU goals such as increased connectivity and digital inclusion. The EU digital agenda aims to ensure that all European households should have access to high-speed internet coverage by 2025 and gigabit connectivity by 2030. Therefore, ambitious goals have been set to enhance broadband connectivity across the region. To achieve the objectives, significant investment is necessary. While private investors are typically the primary source of funding for broadband projects, public funds may be used to supplement these investments in specific cases where necessary. This is done in accordance with EU State aid rules, which ensure that public funding is used in a way that promotes fair competition and minimizes distortions in the market.