Insights

Lawmakers agree rules aimed at stimulating the development of very high capacity networks (VHCN) by facilitating the deployment of new physical network infrastructure.

Why it matters: access to high quality network infrastructure is critical in ensuring the competitiveness of European citizens in the global digitalized market economy and the deployment of VHCN in rural areas and social housing is indispensable is ensuring social inclusion.

At its April plenary, the European Parliament voted to adopt the Gigabit Infrastructure Act, a Regulation that will apply consistently across the European Union:

· Encouraging the shared use of physical infrastructure;

· Requiring easonable requests for access to physical infrastructure to be met under fair and reasonable terms;

· Requiring holders of non-property rights over land earmarked for VHCN development to negotiate access in good faith;

· Streamlining the administrative procedure for granting permits and right of way;

· Encouraging the deployment of high-speed-ready infrastructure in buildings

Go deeper by reading this Commission explainer or the adopted legislation in full