On 29 April 2024, the Council and the Commission approved the new Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA), which will apply from November 2025, and will ensure that Member States have a high degree of autonomy to impose stricter and more detailed rules on some elements included in the Regulation.
This new regulation, which replaces the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive, is an essential piece of legislation to achieve Europe's connectivity goals and targets and to deploy next-generation electronic communications networks in the EU. It is also a key act towards achieving the goal of ensuring that all European households are covered by a Gigabit network and all populated areas will be covered by 5G, of the 2030 Digital Decade.
The GIA introduces several measures to ensure faster, cheaper, and simpler deployment of Gigabit network installation:
Infrastructure sharing: Encourage the sharing of conduits and poles to deploy very high capacity networks (VHCNs) to optimize resources and reduce costs.
Co-deployment and coordination of civil works: Enabling telecom operators to collaborate with public works projects to install fiber optic cables simultaneously, reducing disruptions and accelerating broadband expansion.
Streamlining administrative procedures: Simplifying administrative procedures related to the deployment of networks across the EU to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and improve efficiency.
Equipping buildings with high-speed ready infrastructure: Promote the provision of buildings with high-speed infrastructure and ensure access to it to facilitate the deployment and adoption of broadband.
More specifically, it highlights the granting of permits by positive silence, in case the national authorities do not take a decision within 4 months. However, there are certain exceptions to this positive silence, such as the offer of compensation for delays in the concession of services.
On the other hand, all new or renovated buildings must have a fibre optic access point. An optional "fibre adaptation" badge is also introduced for fibre-equipped buildings.
In addition, a plan is set out to abolish price caps at least for voice and SMS services within the EU by 2029.
Other provisions included in the final text are:
A transitional period for municipalities with less than 3,500 inhabitants.
Specific provisions to promote connectivity in rural and remote areas.
- Several exceptions for critical national infrastructures.
In parallel to the proposal, the European Commission adopted the Gigabit Recommendation in February 2024, which provides guidance to national regulatory authorities to facilitate access to the networks of operators with significant market power. The goal is to encourage the rapid abandonment of traditional technologies and promote the rapid deployment of gigabit networks.