New report on the role of municipal fiber networks in Europe
A new report analyzes how locally anchored networks contribute to fiber deployment, competition, and resilience, particularly in areas where investment conditions are more complex. Through open network models, competition at the service level is enabled, while the networks also contribute to the resilience of digital infrastructure.
A new report examines how locally and regionally anchored network owners contribute to fiber deployment, service-level competition, and digital resilience, particularly in areas where investment conditions are more complex. Through open-access wholesale models, competition at the service level is enabled, while the networks also contribute to the resilience of Europe’s digital infrastructure.
The networks are often linked to public services and multi-utility structures, which entails long-term investment horizons and that revenues are largely reinvested into maintenance, upgrades and redundancy. At the same time, digital infrastructure is increasingly recognized as critical infrastructure, with locally anchored actors contributing through experience in essential infrastructure, integration into municipal emergency frameworks, and operational proximity.
Experiences from Sweden, Germany, and Austria show that locally and regionally anchored networks are an established part of the broadband market structure and play a significant role in deployment, competition and resilience. The report thus provides a European perspective on the governance models and market structures within which many municipal networks operate.
The report The Municipal Network Principle in Europe has been produced by the Swedish Local Fibre Alliance (Stadsnätsföreningen), together with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR), VKU and VÖWG, and developed in collaboration with the consulting firm Arthur D. Little.
