The comprehensive provision of fast and reliable internet is the foundation for a fully digitalized economy and society. While this goal has been achieved in some parts of Germany, rural regions are still severely underserved. This article by Matthias Lehniger, Business Area Director TI Fixed-Line & Mobile, explores the reasons behind this, the extent and consequences of the broadband gap between urban and rural areas, and potential solutions.

“White spots” – a central term in the debate on broadband expansion in Germany – refers to regions where internet provision falls significantly short of modern requirements. Specifically, these are areas where download speeds are less than 30 megabits per second and no economically viable expansion is planned by private internet providers. This undersupply presents particular challenges for rural regions.

The expansion of high-performance broadband networks plays a central role in their long-term development and competitiveness. In our digitalized world, economic prosperity and quality of life depend largely on a stable internet connection. Whether it’s businesses, educational institutions, healthcare services, or private households – they all rely on fast, dependable networks. Despite numerous funding programs and technological advancements, rural areas often remain disconnected.Clear urban-rural divide

 The available figures and statistics reveal a stark urban-rural divide, particularly in the availability of high bandwidths. According to a survey from 2023, in urban areas, broadband speeds of at least 100 MBit/s are available to 95.3 percent of private households. In semi-urban areas, this figure drops to 85.2 percent, while in rural regions, it is significantly lower at 72 percent. The gap widens for even higher bandwidths: gigabit speeds of at least 1,000 MBit/s are available to 76.7 percent of households in cities, compared to just 33 percent in rural areas. Access to fast internet connections is thus not only more widespread but also more powerful in urban areas.

The reasons for this disparity lie mainly in the structural differences between urban and rural settings. Urban areas offer telecommunications providers a much more attractive starting point due to their high population density. Here, the necessary investments in infrastructure can be quickly recouped because a large number of potential users can be reached in a small area. In contrast, expanding broadband in rural regions often requires kilometer-long fiber optic cables that serve only a few households. This combination of high investment costs and a smaller user base makes expansion economically unattractive for many providers.

White Spots Cause Economic and Social Inequality

Inadequate broadband coverage in rural areas has far-reaching consequences that affect both economic and social spheres. Companies that rely on fast and reliable data transmission are particularly affected by slow internet speeds. Large volumes of data that need to be exchanged daily between locations, customers, and suppliers take significantly longer in underserved regions. This not only leads to increased costs, such as longer processing times or additional personnel expenses, but also impairs the efficiency and competitiveness of companies. Under these conditions, some business processes can even come to a complete standstill, especially if data transmission takes several hours or even days.

Moreover, new digital services that are already part of daily life in urban centers are often only partially usable for many businesses and households in rural areas. Video conferences that could replace business trips, or the use of cloud services to reduce IT costs, are hardly possible without high-performance broadband. These limitations result in rural companies lagging behind technologically and organizationally. The shortage of skilled workers, which is already a challenge in many rural regions, is further exacerbated by poor internet connectivity.

Flexible work models, such as working from home, are often not efficiently possible due to slow connections. Access to fast internet is therefore not just a matter of technical equipment but also determines how attractive a region is perceived as a workplace or place to live.

Political and technological solutions are in demand

To bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas, targeted strategies are needed that include both financial support and innovative technologies. In recent years, the German federal government has launched numerous funding programs to advance broadband expansion in underserved regions. One example is the targeted support provided by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. These funds help municipalities and network operators manage the significant investments required for expanding fiber-optic or mobile networks. However, experience shows that applying for and accessing these funds often involves bureaucratic hurdles and delays. To accelerate expansion, it is therefore necessary to streamline processes and promote stronger cooperation between the federal government, states, municipalities, and private providers.

Cost-effective and faster alternatives to traditional broadband expansion through civil engineering are also necessary. This includes above-ground fiber-optic expansion, as described in my contribution to Digital Chiefs. Additionally, new technological approaches offer promising opportunities to quickly and efficiently improve network coverage in rural areas. A standout example is the “Axians M30,” a mobile radio mast that enables flexible and stable network coverage. This solution is particularly suitable for remote or hard-to-reach areas, as the mast can be deployed in the shortest time and used for both mobile and broadband services. The “Axians M30” combines mobility with performance and can also serve as an interim solution until fixed infrastructures are available. Learn more about this innovative technology and its applications here.

Furthermore, expanding the 5G network is a crucial component in better connecting rural regions. 5G enables higher speeds and greater network capacity, which are essential for modern applications such as smart farming or telemedicine.

In combination with technologies like the “Axians M30,” network coverage can be improved quickly and cost-effectively without the need for extensive construction work.

Achieving Comprehensive Broadband Coverage with Axians

The disparity in digital infrastructure between urban and rural areas remains one of the biggest challenges for societal and economic development in Germany. Despite various funding programs and technological innovations, rural regions still lag behind in terms of high-performance broadband networks. This hinders the competitiveness of businesses, the quality of life for residents, and the comprehensive digitalization of Germany. Comprehensive broadband coverage is essential to strengthen rural areas and enable digital participation.

Flexible and scalable solutions are in demand, such as those offered by Axians in fiber optic expansion and innovative technologies like the mobile radio mast “Axians M30”. As a general contractor for fiber optic expansion, Axians supports the entire process from analysis to planning and implementation – even in hard-to-reach regions of Germany. For more information about Axians’ extensive portfolio in this area, click here.

Source image: Adobe Stock / GreenOptix