The Swedish Board of Agriculture's decision to reduce broadband support is incomprehensible

The Swedish Board of Agriculture's decision to redistribute SEK 200 million that would have gone to broadband expansion in the Swedish sparsely populated areas to pastures and hay meadows is incomprehensible.

Less than a year ago, IT&Telekomföretagen presented a report showing that investments of the equivalent of SEK 42 billion are needed for the whole country to have access to fast broadband. Despite this need, the government only increased its broadband support by SEK 150 million in its budget for 2020.

- "The fact that the Swedish Board of Agriculture, in the midst of the ongoing Corona epidemic where access to fast connections is central to maintaining social functions and business, chooses to reduce support for broadband is completely incomprehensible," says My Bergdahl.

- The investment in broadband support announced by the government for the year has suddenly been reduced by the decision of the Swedish Board of Agriculture. The SEK 150 million allocated by the government and to be distributed by PTS is eaten up by the SEK 200 million that is now being withdrawn from the rural development program, says My Bergdahl.