The Growing Struggle for Fast Internet: Lower Saxony Discontinues Broadband Funding

The way to fast internet is getting longer again. As announced by the Lower Saxony Digital Ministry, broadband funding is to be discontinued in the coming year due to a difficult budgetary situation. A fatal and bad decision.

In addition to mobile communications, Germany has been lagging behind its own standards and those of many other countries in terms of internet coverage for years. At the latest in the next election campaign, however, digitization will again be proclaimed to be the top priority. And the often-cited reduction in bureaucracy is also advertised, but it only works with fast and reliable connections.

While many households in rural areas have been waiting for a fiber optic connection for a long time, fast download speeds are commonplace in other countries. And this is one of the most important location factors of today.

“The generation of the digital age does not ask where the nearest supermarket is, but how fast the internet connection is.”Oliver Hermes

The generation of the digital age does not ask where the nearest supermarket is, but how fast the internet connection is. Those who have little or nothing to offer will quickly be left behind in comparison to others. Companies also depend on a stable connection, otherwise they too will settle in well-supplied areas. This significantly weakens the domestic economy.

The administrative districts of Vechta and Cloppenburg therefore deserve praise, as they are pushing ahead with and also co-financing the expansion in the Oldenburger Münsterland on their own initiative. They invest high amounts in the millions and absorb what the state, federal government and telecommunications providers cannot or simply do not want to do.