Berlin to Become Gigabit Capital

Aim to drive the expansion of Gigabit networks throughout the Smart City Berlin – through fibre optic and 5G cellular networks

14 March saw the signing of the “Declaration on the Joint Implementation of the Gigabit Strategy”, which Governing Mayor of Berlin Franziska Giffey called a key milestone on the way to becoming the “Gigabit Capital Berlin”. The mayor went on to say that the further expansion of the digital infrastructure is an essential condition for the city’s future. “It strengthens Berlin’s competitive position as an industry and technology location and promotes growth.”

The members of the new steering committee met for the first time to sign the declaration. Besides Franziska Giffey and Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises Stephan Schwarz, committee members include representatives of the Berlin districts and the telecommunications industry. As a central monitoring and steering body, the new committee aims to ensure that the targets defined in the Gigabit Strategy passed in June 2021 are met, mostly focussing on driving the expansion of Gigabit networks throughout Berlin in cooperation with network operators. “By implementing the strategy, we are setting new standards for a digital Berlin – both in the inner-city districts and on the outskirts,” Stephan Schwarz explains.

The Berlin Gigabit Strategy objectives

• By 2025: All households, company locations and above-ground traffic routes within the city will have access to the 5G mobile network as well as to download speeds of up to one gigabit throughout the city (via   FTTB/H and HFC networks).
• By 2030: Berlin will have established a city-wide fibre optic network that extends to buildings and dwellings.

The new steering committee has also agreed to remove any obstacles that hinder the network expansion and to create a favourable climate for investments through framework conditions that enable telecommunications companies to expand the Gigabit network in an economically viable manner. Berlin’s administrative departments will support and coordinate the process in its entirety.