@Harrydakommun has got the broadband

Last week, I visited Härryda municipality to hear how a municipal management team thinks about broadband expansion.

In all the years I have worked on the issue of how we in Sweden will succeed in achieving the government's goal of 90% of all households and businesses having access to 100Mbit/s by 2020, the municipalities' actions have been identified as a key factor for success. When municipalities understand the importance of citizens having access to future-proof broadband networks and help to ensure that these are in place, much is gained.

That's why meeting the representatives of Härryda municipality made me so happy! Because in Härryda municipality, the decision-makers - regardless of party affiliation - understand the importance of citizens and businesses having access to good broadband. Both the chairman of the municipal executive board and the leader of the opposition have a common view of the municipality's needs. To implement the expansion of the infrastructure in the municipality, they have chosen to work with a private operator, in this case IP-Only. This means that IP-Only builds and invests in a municipality-wide fiber network, and the municipality ensures that it happens as smoothly as possible. In the agreement between Härryda municipality and IP-Only, the municipality has set clear requirements on where and when the rollout should take place. At the same time, the municipality's broadband coordinator coordinates IP-Only's contacts with the municipality so that permits and the like are handled as efficiently as possible.

I think Härryda municipality is a really good example of how we in Sweden will succeed in achieving the broadband target.

For the required infrastructure investments to be as far-reaching as possible, i.e. for as many households and businesses as possible to have access to high-speed broadband, it is crucial that municipalities cooperate with private actors and provide them with the conditions to build in a cost-effective way. This could include, for example, shortening the processing time for excavation permits, allowing alternative laying methods where appropriate, being flexible about restoration works and allowing the builder to provide guarantees. More cost-effective broadband construction in the municipality means that more residents will be able to get fiber and thus take advantage of the opportunities of digitization.

While I was there, Jimmy Andreasson and Malin Karlzén at IP-Only offered an inspiring study visit to some areas where fiber digging was in full swing, which was really appreciated by a Stockholm-based official like me. It's not every day I get to dig for fiber in Pixbo - and actually contribute to Sweden's broadband expansion!

(Picture: Jimmy Andreasson and Malin Karlzén at IP-Only digging in Pixbo)