Carinthia lags in fibre-optic rollout as funding cuts delay projects

Carinthia has fibre-optic coverage for just 24 percent of households, leaving the Austrian state in seventh place nationwide, ORF reports. The figure is also below the national average of almost 40 percent.

Demand for fast fibre-optic internet is expected to grow as smart homes, working from home and streaming become more widespread. Many businesses also regard fibre connections as an important factor in choosing a location.

Expansion is particularly needed in scattered rural regions, where building fibre-optic lines is often too expensive and unprofitable for private companies. Partnerships between private businesses and Breitbandinitiative Kärnten, a subsidiary of the state of Carinthia, are intended to accelerate the rollout.

Managing director Peter Schark said the projects currently under construction would run until the end of next year. Together with private partners, the initiative expects to have built or be building connections for 71,000 usage units.

Breitbandinitiative Kärnten, known as BIK, is currently expanding the fibre-optic network in 40 municipalities. The projects extend from the Lavant and Gurk valleys through southern Carinthia to the Lieser and Malta valleys. Work has already been completed in the Görtschitz Valley, Gail Valley and Lavamünd regions.

Public and private investors have put almost 300 million euros into broadband expansion. The rollout is due to begin next year in 16 more municipalities, but municipalities in the Saualpe region along the Koralmbahn railway are not included.

Schark attributed the omission to a federal funding cut from 50 million euros to 30 million euros. He said it was incomprehensible that fibre-optic expansion was not being funded in the municipality of St Paul in the Lavant Valley, along the Koralmbahn. It remains unclear whether and when the next public funding will be allocated. Projects already planned, including those along the Koralmbahn, are to be submitted again, Schark said.