PTS's co-financing support for expansion of broadband - PTS-ER-2011:22

11/11/2011

This report is the second of its kind. It reflects the work up to and including mid-October 2011. PTS co-financing regards public support for broadband deployment by the Rural Development Programme and the ducting fund. The report mainly focuses on work which somehow has had an impact on the co-financing during the last six months, ie. since the first report was presented. Additional funds allocated within the Rural Development Programme due to actions by the Board of Agriculture in Spring 2011, has had a positive impact on the co-financing.

In mid-October 2011 around 88.4 million SEK had been granted for co-financing for a total of 149 applications. The report describes the granted funds, allocated over county and programme. In total, so far 19 counties8 have applied for co-financing from PTS. PTS has also received applications through the Sami Parliament. The report also includes information about how PTS will follow up results when projects are finalised. The follow-up includes the number of households and businesses covered by the broadband networks that PTS has co-financed. The networks stretch is also of interest in the follow-up work.

Furthermore, the report informs of the notification of funds to support broadband that took place in September 2011, which required a revision of PTS guidelines for co-financing. In brief, two policy issues are highlighted that relate to the funding of broadband, namely the transfer of broadband networks and provision of broadband as a service of general economic interest. In addition, information is given of the work within the Broadband Council that relates to PTS co-financing, and the co-financing in relation to activities of the organisation Länssamverkan Bredband. In short, the report also describes PTS co-financing for 2012. As for the following year, PTS will be allocated additional funds for co-financing the Rural Development Programme.