Council of the EU Adopts the Gigabit Infrastructure Act

Executive briefing: On February 27, 2024 the Council of the European Union adopted the Gigabit Infrastructure Act, creating harmonised rules for deploying high-speed electronic communications networks. The regulation accelerates permits, mandates single information points for infrastructure data, and sets rights for accessing existing ducts, poles, and in-building wiring.

Key policy signals

Permit deadlines. Public authorities must decide on installation permits within four months, reducing bottlenecks for fibre and 5G builds.
Infrastructure sharing. Operators gain regulated access to existing physical infrastructure at cost-oriented prices to avoid duplicative digs.
Digital-ready buildings. New buildings and major renovations must include fibre-ready in-building infrastructure to support gigabit services.

Control alignment

Deployment planning. Update European network expansion timelines using the act’s maximum permitting durations.
Vendor management. Ensure contractors can leverage public single information points to coordinate digs and reduce civil works risk.
Facility upgrades. Align real estate projects with the act’s in-building wiring standards to maintain compliance for corporate campuses.

Action checklist

Engage with national regulators as they transpose enforcement and penalty mechanisms for the Gigabit Infrastructure Act.
Audit facility designs to confirm fibre-ready infrastructure requirements are captured for EU properties.
Coordinate with telecom partners on revised service delivery commitments enabled by faster permitting.

Sources

Zeph Tech helps EU operators translate the Gigabit Infrastructure Act into faster fibre and 5G deployment roadmaps.