The European Council has given the green light for the accelerated deployment of gigabit networks in the EU. The so-called Gigabit Infrastructure Act will come into effect within 18 months and must be fully implemented by 2030.
The Gigabit Infrastructure Act should make it easier and cheaper for companies in the EU to build fast networks, such as fiber optic and 5G. This is partly because the licensing procedures for the construction of such networks must become simpler. This is done through a 'mandatory mediation mechanism' between government authorities and telecom companies in the EU. Government buildings must also cooperate in installing the necessary infrastructure such as transmission towers. In addition, the law relaxes rules regarding cooperation on, for example, transmission towers.
The aim of the law package is that all populated areas in the EU have access to internet speeds of at least 1Gbit/s by 2030. This can be done via fiber optic or 5G. Now that the law has been adopted, it will take 18 months before it becomes applicable.
The European Council also announced that the current price ceiling for calling minutes and text messages will be extended until June 2032. Normally the ceiling would expire in May. According to the ceiling, calling minutes in the EU may not cost more than 0.19 euros and text messages may cost a maximum of 0.06 euros.