Highlights from the 2023 European Broadband Awards Ceremony

Introduction

The 2023 European Broadband Awards ceremony, held in Brussels on November 21, recognised and celebrated outstanding achievements in broadband connectivity across Europe. This annual event, organised by the Broadband Competence Offices (BCOs) Network in collaboration with the European Commission, showcased 14 pioneering broadband projects from Austria, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania and Switzerland.

The ceremony brought together more than 130 representatives from European broadband projects, BCOs, and EU institutions, with an additional 110 online spectators, creating a dynamic forum for knowledge exchange.

Keynote Address

The event started with a welcome address by Kamila Kloc, Director for Digital Decade and Connectivity at the European Commission. Ms. Kloc underscored the urgency of accelerating the EU's digital transformation, as highlighted in the Digital Decade Report. She emphasised collaborative efforts between local authorities and private investors to bridge digital disparities between urban and rural areas, especially in terms of fibre connectivity and 5G deployment. Additionally, Ms. Kloc outlined the Commission's initiatives to encourage Member States to propose strategies for achieving EU Gigabit Connectivity targets and highlighted the importance of multi-country projects under the Digital Decade policy.

Award Highlights

The expert jury introduced the five award categories, emphasising the significance of the finalist projects in addressing crucial challenges and contributing to the broader goals of the Digital Decade.

The ceremony featured presentations and video showcases of projects nominated in each category, leading to the announcement of winners and finalists. These projects showcased innovative approaches and demonstrated significant achievements in advancing broadband connectivity across Europe. The winners demonstrated exceptional strategies in financing, co-investment, socio-economic impact, demand generation, and cross-border collaboration.

1. Innovative Models of Financing, Business, and Investment:

Winner:

SIRO Network Expansion (Ireland) leveraged existing electricity networks for fibre rollout, addressing the digital divide in Ireland.

Finalists:

nöGIG: Innovative PPP Financing (Lower Austria) used a public-private partnership to cover rural areas with an open-access wholesale FTTH network.

Development of Next Generation Access Infrastructure (Lithuania) laid over 11,000 km of fibre optic cable lines and 25 towers to provide wholesale communication services to operators in rural and remote areas, with co-financing with the European Regional Development Fund.

2. Cost-Reduction Measures and Co-Investment:

Winner:

The Race Against Fagradalsfjall (Iceland) laid fibre optic cables in a volcanically active area during an eruption, reducing capital expenditure by 45%.

Finalists:

Strategic Connection Points Programme (Ireland) provided free public Wi-Fi in locations of community importance, ensuring every primary school in Ireland has access to high-speed broadband.

Hermes - Merger of Energie AG Telekom and Fibre Service OÖ Infrastructures (Austria) merged companies to provide wholesale services to mixed areas, focusing on rural regions, and accelerating fibre optic expansion.

3. Socio-Economic Impact in Rural and Remote Areas:

Winner:

Trysil - Broadband for Everyone (Norway) extended broadband access to 99.7% of households in a municipality, countering depopulation and fostering economic growth.

Finalists:

Ro-NET: Building a national broadband infrastructure (Romania) extended an optical fibre network to approximately 120,000 rural households, 7,200 private companies, and more than 2,300 public institutions, using funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

UNICO – Demanda Rural (Spain) used Recovery and Resilience Facility subsidies to provide ultrafast broadband services in remote and rural areas in Spain, addressing connectivity issues.

4. Demand Generation and Take-Up of Connectivity:

Winner:

Broadband4Everyone - Broadband Infrastructure Development Plan for sustainable City of Solin (Croatia) served 3,000 rural households with 94% coverage, prioritising sustainability with solar panels and co-financing with the European Regional Development Fund.

Finalists:

internet.gov.pl - Information System on Fixed Internet Access (Poland) launched an online platform and interactive map enabling end users to check broadband availability and report internet access needs.

Territorial community TV for Pohjois-Satakunta area (Finland) introduced community TV to combat depopulation, engaging the community in creating and sharing content through a dedicated channel.

5. Cross-Border and International Connectivity:

Winner:

Rheintal Internet Exchange - Project "Around the Lake Constance" (Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland) provided a neutral regional platform for internet traffic exchange around Lake Constance, connecting and offering services to four countries.

Finalist:

Introduction of Fixed Wireless Access services by Geuzenet (Netherlands, Germany) introduced fixed wireless access solutions using public 5G networks in Germany, aiming to serve businesses in areas where fibre is not yet available.

Conclusions

The 2023 European Broadband Awards highlighted the exemplary efforts of projects contributing to the digital advancement of Europe. The event served as a platform for recognising innovative approaches and partnerships that address connectivity challenges. The European Commission expressed its commitment to disseminating these best practices widely to inspire future connectivity initiatives. As the digital landscape evolves, the Commission looks forward to continued excellence in broadband projects and encourages stakeholders to leverage the expertise of national Broadband Competence Offices for successful deployment initiatives.

In conclusion, the 2023 European Broadband Awards ceremony not only celebrated achievements, but also fostered a collaborative spirit among European nations to build a connected future for all citizens, regardless of their geographical location.

Find out more:

• Brochure showcasing the ‘Good practices from the 2023 European Broadband Awards’
• Photos from the 2023 European Broadband Awards
• Video interviews: explore more good practices in the BCO Network video playlist
• Broadband in EU countries: key facts and contacts