Association has settled for a project for BGN 460 million for fast internet to villages
Although the year is 2025, there are still settlements in Bulgaria that has been frozen in the last century, without internet access. Usually they are remote villages with a small population, which is why there is no economic logic in the investment for business, as the return will be long. At the same time, however, this is one of the topics that are important to the European Union and thanks to this the project has been set out in the Bulgarian Recovery Plan.
The project is for BGN 460 million and aims to provide internet access in rural and sparsely populated areas. However, he has been criticized by alternative and regional Internet and television providers. They remain outside it, as only the three large telecoms in Bulgaria – « A1 Bulgaria », « Jettel » and « Vivacom » are eligible for the application.
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The procedure for the European project was announced by the Ministry of Transport at the beginning of the year, and the Branch Association of Bulgarian Telecommunications Operators (Babto) called on the government to review the procedure the day before the deadline in which it could apply for it – April 11. She claims that during the announcement of the procedure, she has so far sent letters to « all competent authorities and ministries ».
Procedure conditions
According to the procedure, only telecoms can apply for the use of spectrum in frequency bands 2.6 GHz, 3.6 GHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz. In addition, applicants are required to have a minimum of BGN 6 million in capital.
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Babto describes this as a « financial barrier » and the conditions as « unlawful requirements that will further distort the telecommunications market in the country. » According to the Association, if the project only covers the three mobile operators, it will even further the competition in the Bulgarian Telecom Market.
| In its essence, the procedure must connect 140 municipalities to which the state network does not have access, as well as 45, which requires modernization. This network will cover about 350,000 people who will gain access to fast internet. |
The procedure is divided into six lots, each with funding between BGN 50 and 75 million.
The problems facing the implementation of the project are already regular for almost all of the recovery plan, namely the lack of time, as the European Union member states must complete project work by the end of June 2026.
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Meanwhile, on Friday, in connection with the procedure, Parliament has adopted accelerated legislative changes, with which communication networks and facilities should be built under relief conditions.
