The Gigabit Infrastructure Act is the EU’s attempt to break the slow-build cycle that has held back Europe’s digital competitiveness. It streamlines permits, encourages infrastructure sharing, and aims to cut deployment costs so gigabit networks and 5G can reach businesses and households much faster. The idea is simple: without high-speed connectivity, Europe can’t compete on AI, digital services, or industrial innovation the areas now shaping global power.
For Germany, this hits close to home. No major EU economy has struggled more with drawn-out permits, fragmented local procedures, and delays that keep broadband and 5G rollout years behind leading countries. German industry wants fast networks to modernise factories, run cloud-based systems, and support new defence and mobility technologies, but progress has been slow. The Gigabit Infrastructure Act won’t fix all of Germany’s digital weaknesses, but it gives Berlin a clearer framework — and far fewer excuses to speed up the infrastructure overhaul its economy has needed for a decade.
Know more about the Gigabit Infrastructure Act on European Commission’s website.