Measures to facilitate broadband deployment welcomed

Broadband Digital infrastructure
IT&Telekomföretagen welcomes the fact that the government now sees that the issue of exceptions to the localization principle, which governs, among other things, where municipal investments in broadband expansion can be made, is a complicated issue that needs to be investigated separately.

-It is no secret that the ongoing pandemic has clearly demonstrated the need for access to fast and secure broadband. Nor has it escaped anyone's attention that the rollout of broadband in Sweden is far from complete. Therefore, it is of course welcome that the government is taking measures to promote and facilitate the expansion of broadband," says My Bergdahl, industry policy expert at IT&Telekomföretagen.

Some have emphasized that an exemption from the location principle would be an important tool for achieving the broadband targets and suggested that such an exemption should be introduced, while others have pointed to the risk of unhealthy competition. We welcome the fact that the Government recognizes that the issue of exemption from the locational principle is a complex issue that needs to be investigated separately. Not least, the issue of the impact on competition needs to be carefully examined.

-"As we have previously pointed out, too many companies experience problems when they face competition from the public sector selling goods and services on the open market. And it is clear that our member companies are experiencing problems in this regard," My Bergdahl continues.

This is also evident in the Swedish Competition Authority's report, where IT and telecom is the sector where the problem is perceived to be greatest. It is therefore to be welcomed that a special investigator has now been given the task of examining this area.

-We look forward to contributing with IT&Telecom companies and our members' experience and knowledge in the continued work.

 

Government press release March 24, 2021:
https://www.regeringen.se/pressmeddelanden/2021/03/bredbandsutbyggnad-over-kommungrans-ska-underlattas/

IT&Telecom companies April 27, 2020 'We are ready - when will the referral come?
https://techsverige.se/2020/04/vi-ar-redo-nar-kommer-remissen/

The Swedish Competition Authority's report 'Ten years of regulations on anti-competitive public sales activities': https://www.konkurrensverket.se/globalassets/publikationer/rapporter/rapport_2020-2.pdf