Broadband rollout - ultimately a democracy issue

Broadband Digital inclusion Digital infrastructure Digitization
A future digital society requires everyone to be connected. To reach the full potential of digitalization, everyone who lives and works in Sweden must have access to a digital infrastructure that works.

- It is actually a democracy issue. If not everyone has access to well-functioning broadband connections, there is a risk of creating a digital divide in society. It is about ensuring that all of Sweden can live. In those parts of the country where there is no good connection, people will not be able to live and work there," says Kajsa Frisell, industrial policy expert, IT&Telecom companies.

The government's broadband policy over the past decade has been based on the market being primarily responsible for investment in broadband. The public sector's responsibility is to ensure that good conditions are created for investment and to provide support money for expansion in areas where there is not the same market interest.

- For me, it is clear that it should be about a positive interaction between, among other things, our member companies in IT&Telecom companies and public actors such as municipalities and authorities. But for this to work, sustainable solutions are required. The government must understand how important the expansion is for the digital society of the future and for growth and employment. It is not enough that the government's own authority, the Swedish Transport Administration, does not constructively contribute to the installation of fiber along our roads and railways," says Kajsa Frisell.

Unsustainable situation for many in sparsely populated areas
Unless the Swedish Transport Administration has effective permit processes and constructively creates the conditions for effective broadband expansion, Sweden risks losing billions of kronor that the market is prepared to invest in digital infrastructure.

- We are currently in a state of uncertainty, and uncertainty and investment are not a good combination. Failure to expand broadband could lead to an unsustainable situation for many in rural areas. How can they stay in their homes or run their businesses if they can't fully participate in the digital society?" says Kajsa Frisell.

The public sector must go digital
- We also need to pave the way for the digitalization of the public sector. Fewer and fewer people need to support more and more people, so the public sector must become more efficient. Digitization plays a major role in this. If we don't have good connectivity to everyone in the whole country, the public sector will obviously also be negatively affected," says Kajsa Frisell.

Digitization not a numerical experiment
There is a clear political broadband target - 95% of Sweden's households and businesses should have access to 100 Mbit/s by 2020. The correct interpretation of this figure is crucial for digitization.

- The digitization of Sweden must never become an experiment in numbers. Here it is important that national policy is clear. For IT&Telecom companies and all municipalities, it is obvious that the figure should be read as meaning that 95 percent of households and businesses in every Swedish municipality should be covered by broadband expansion. But if you build 100 percent in densely populated areas, 45 percent in rural areas is actually enough for the government target to be met. It goes without saying that this is unsustainable," says Kajsa Frisell.