Access to high speed internet connection, data transmission, online learning, e-services and e-commerce for three million people living in the region of Greater Poland – that’s the planned result of an EU co-funded project conducted by local authorities with the cooperation of private companies.
- 23 November 2015
The construction of the broadband network is one of the most important investments in the region and one of the biggest investments in telecom infrastructure in Poland. Thanks to this communication highway, three million people will be able to use the network to create new work places, new businesses, use e-services and to have access to global knowledge and cultural heritage. That may translate to higher competitiveness of the region and growing potential in research and development.
The main goal of the project “Construction of the broadband network in Greater Poland” was to provide open, safe and high speed internet connection in the Greater Poland region especially in the peripheries, where the risk of digital exclusion is higher.
Thanks to five thousand kilometers of high bandwidth fibre networks, three millions citizens will get access to high speed data transmission, e-services, online learning and cheap communication technologies. Such investment provides a boost to the regional economy.
Meeting EU demands
According to European Commission requirements drafted in the Digital Agenda, EU citizens should have access to broadband network with speeds of 30 Mbps or more by 2020. As stated in the Agenda, users require access to high-speed transmission data services so that Europe’s small and medium-sized enterprises can benefit from the opportunities offered by the rapid development of the Internet and electronic commerce.
Unfortunately, conducting such expensive investments is not a profitable option to private telecom companies. Therefore local authorities take the responsibility and, with the support from EU funding, are able to meet the demands of digital development.
Step further
The project was conducted as public-private partnership in the cooperation with telecom companies – INEA S.A. and Asta Net – who were able to provide the contribution necessary to get EU funding.
Except providing the required broadband network with the speed of 30 Mbps, the authorities of Greater Poland voivodeship decided to make a step further. For an additional 34 million euros, they built a fibre network to “the last mile” that provides Internet connection of 100 Mbps directly to households.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Construction of the broadband network in Greater Poland” is EUR 96 709 598, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 66 831 917 from the Operational Programme “Greater Poland” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period.