Investments provide tailwind in broadband rollout

Broadband Digital infrastructure
The government today announced investments of an additional SEK 500 million for broadband expansion in 2022, giving a total of SEK 1.3 billion for next year. Investments that IT&Telekomföretagen has worked for and looks positively on. At the same time, it is clear that more is needed for a fully connected Sweden.

- "IT&Telecom companies, together with many other stakeholders, have for a long time been pushing for the government to increase funding so that everyone in the country can have access to fast broadband - regardless of where they live. With the government's announcement, further steps are taken to achieve the goal, although more is needed," says My Bergdahl, business policy expert at IT&Telekomföretagen.

The Government's own agency, the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), has calculated that SEK 20 billion in government support is needed to achieve the goal of fast broadband for all. Industry players have invested a total of SEK 70 billion in fixed broadband in 2014-2020, while the government has contributed SEK 5 billion in support.

- People and businesses across the country expect and depend entirely on the availability of fast connections. This has become even clearer now during the coronavirus crisis. The government has proposed investing almost SEK 800 billion in transport infrastructure between 2022 and 2033, but we lack this type of long-term and powerful investment in digital infrastructure and in the digital transformation of society. This is needed for Sweden to cope with the climate transition, competitiveness, jobs and welfare," says Åsa Zetterberg, Director General of IT&Telecomföretagen.

- It should be obvious to everyone that we need to ensure that the whole country can access fast broadband. So I hope and believe that we will see investments in broadband also in other parties' proposals for next year's budget," concludes My Bergdahl.