Gigabit-capable infrastructure; application for funding
The Free State of Bavaria is promoting the expansion of gigabit-capable broadband networks in Bavaria.
Description
Purpose
Connection to future-proof network infrastructures is a key location factor in municipalities. In rural areas, it is virtually impossible to build a nationwide gigabit-capable infrastructure without funding due to the low cost of expansion and operation. Bavaria's gigabit funding program, the only one of its kind in Germany, provides targeted support to municipalities for the provision of gigabit-capable infrastructure in areas where no roll-out is being carried out by the municipalities themselves.
The new funding is primarily intended to benefit commercial lines that do not yet have a reliable network with bandwidths of at least 200 Mbit/s symmetrical (upload and download), either at present or as a result of a self-build expansion in the next three years. Private households can benefit if reliable coverage with at least 100 Mbit/s download is not available or at least foreseeable.
Object
Funding is provided for expenditure by the grantee on private or municipal network operators (viability gap model) or expenditure by the grantee for the construction of its own passive broadband infrastructure (operator model).
Beneficiaries
Grant recipients are municipalities, associations of municipalities and municipal associations in the Free State of Bavaria.
Eligible costs
Eligible costs in the viability gap model are the expenses incurred to close the viability gap and in the operator model the expenses incurred to build the passive infrastructure less lease income.
Type and amount
The funding rate and the maximum funding amount per municipality are determined by the granting authority.
The municipalities receive maximum subsidies of EUR 2,500 to EUR 6,000 per address in the "gray area" at a subsidy rate of 80% to 90%. Municipalities with low financial strength can benefit from a hardship clause.
The maximum subsidy amounts per municipality are between EUR 3 million and EUR 8 million.
Further information on the funding conditions can be found in an information document published on the website of the Bavarian Broadband Center (see "Related links").
Other
In addition, particularly poorly served areas (so-called "white NGA spots"; previously served with less than 30 Mbit/s download) can receive funding under the federal broadband program. In order to raise the lower federal subsidy rates to Bavarian levels, the Free State provides subsidies for co-financing so that sufficient funds are available in such areas.
Prerequisites
Areas of a municipality that are not yet covered by a next generation access network (NGA network) (known as a "white area") or are covered by only one NGA network (known as a "gray area") and fall below certain minimum bandwidths ("pick-up thresholds") are eligible as development areas.
Residential connections in gray or white spots are eligible if they are not yet supplied with at least 100 Mbit/s download.
Commercial lines in gray or white areas are eligible if they are not yet supplied with at least 200 Mbit/s symmetrical (i.e., in download and upload) and are also not yet supplied with more than 500 Mbit/s in download.
Procedure
The funding procedure under the Bavarian Gigabit Guideline is clearly structured in 9 modules. Numerous sample documents and supplementary guides are available to support the municipalities (see "Further links").
1. inventory in the municipal area
- Municipality determines current coverage of broadband services in accordance with BayGibitR specifications and documents actual coverage in an address list. In addition, an overview map is created.
2nd market survey with preliminary development area
- The municipality publishes the address list and map from the inventory together with a query about the network operators' own expansion plans for the next three years. The comment period of at least one month is to be extended on request.
- Municipality requests network operators to comment on incompleteness and errors in the presentation of actual supply.
3 Publication of results of market survey
- Municipality publishes the result of the market investigation in accordance with the sample document.
4. publication of announcement of selection procedure
4a. in the economic viability gap model:
- Municipality publishes the announcement of the selection procedure; here, the municipality provides information on the minimum requirements for the addresses to be covered, among other things.
- If there are only one or two bidders in the selection procedure: Municipality commissions Bavarian Broadband Center to check the plausibility of the bids.
4b. In the operator model:
- Municipality publishes the announcement for the selection of a network operator (lessee) and specifies possible connection points.
- If there are only one or two bidders in the network operator selection process: Municipality commissions Bavarian Broadband Center to check the plausibility of the bids.
- Municipality concludes cooperation agreement with network operator. (Note: Contract does not take effect until grant notice is issued).
- Municipality plans the passive infrastructure to be set up in consultation with the future tenant (if necessary, invitation to tender for planning services).
- The municipality publishes the invitation to tender for the construction of the passive infrastructure.
5. publication of the result of the selection procedure
- Municipality publishes the intended selection decision of the future network operators.
6. procedure at district government
- Municipality submits funding application to the locally responsible district government.
- After reviewing the documents, the district government issues the notification of funding.
7. cooperation agreement or commissioning of construction work
7a. In the profitability gap model:
- Municipality concludes cooperation agreement with the selected network operator.
7b. In the operator model:
- Municipality commissions the construction of the passive network infrastructure. (Note: For the cooperation agreement, see 4b.).
8. publication of subsidy profile
- Municipality presents the planned infrastructure in a funding profile.
9. publication of final project description
- Municipality documents the constructed infrastructure in a final project description.
- The funding profile and final project description are published on the central online portal for 10 years.
Deadlines
Bavarian gigabit funding runs until the end of 2025. Funding applications under the Bavarian Gigabit Guideline (BayGibitR) can be submitted until September 30, 2025. Applications for funding under the Cofinancing Gigabit Guideline (KofGibitR) can be submitted until June 30, 2023.
Links to more information
Status: 31.05.2023
Responsible for editing: Bayerisches Staatsministerium der Finanzen und für Heimat
- Online transactions, Bavaria-wide
- Online transactions, locally limited
- Prefillable Form, Bavaria-wide
- Legal bases, Bavaria-wide
- Legal bases, locally limited
- Fees, Bavaria-wide
- Fees, locally limited