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On 27 November, the Provincial States of Fryslân unanimously approved the Investment Plan for superfast broadband in Fryslân. Dialogic has developed the investment plan for the province, and Sven Maltha has been appointed by the Province as the initiator. Up to now, the rural areas of Friesland have been without access to high-quality broadband connections. In order to support the nearly 33,000 households and businesses in these so-called 'white areas' in obtaining such a connection, Fryslân province has decided to implement a package of incentives for these rural areas. Specifically, this involves approximately 3.2 million euros in connection subsidies for households and a total fund capital of 41 million euros for 'soft' loans, a large part of which is expected to be returned to the province in due course. Additionally, the province aims to establish a broadband desk serving an important informational role for businesses and resident initiatives. Some leading municipalities do not have to wait until the broadband fund becomes active in the summer of 2014. They can already submit proposals for so-called start-up projects early next year.
It is expected that next year, in some municipalities, market parties such as Reggefiber, Ziggo, UPC, or Kabelnoord will take the initiative to submit a proposal to the broadband fund, while in other municipalities, residents themselves will initiate activities such as establishing a network or financing cooperative. Such initiatives will not only contribute to the development of high-quality infrastructure but also to a host of high-quality services in the areas of healthcare, education, and security. Ultimately, these societal services should be made available throughout Fryslân.