Internet connectivity will be available within the new year to 5,493 «white» rural and island areas, giving citizens who live and work there fast access to the internet.
The contracts of the project «RURAL BROADBAND, Development of Broadband Infrastructure in Rural White Areas of the Greek State and Exploitation-Utilization Services of the Infrastructure» were signed today by the Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Posts, Menelaos Daskalakis, and the contracting entities.
Specifically, the project of the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Posts, with a total budget of 161,077,032 euros (excluding VAT), which is financed in the form of a PPP, from resources of the OP "Digital Convergence", the OP "Macedonia-Thrace" and the OP "Rural Development of Greece 2007-2013", concerns the installation and operation of broadband network infrastructure in 5,493 "white" rural and island areas, which correspond to approximately 50% of the Greek territory.
«The strategic goal of the project is to reduce the «broadband gap» between the increasingly disadvantaged regions of Greece, where even basic internet access is not provided, and the regions of the rest of the country, where reliable internet access services are already offered» said Mr. Daskalakis. «By leveraging EU resources of 161 million euros, the Greek State is putting into action its commitment to a substantial strengthening of the region, satisfying a long‑standing request of Greek citizens who live and operate there» added.
Also, the Minister of Telecommunications and Posts stressed that with the immediate implementation of the Rurals projects, employment will be immediately boosted, while the appropriate digital infrastructures are being created to strengthen local entrepreneurship. In sectors such as tourism, agricultural holdings, the direct distribution of agricultural products will be significantly enhanced with direct contact with new markets, both inside and outside Greece.
Also, the region's citizens will directly utilize basic government services, such as electronic prescribing, electronic connection with the Ministry of Finance services, digital issuance of certificates and public documents.
It is noted that for the project's needs, the country (excluding Attica and Thessaloniki) has been divided into three equivalent regions (LOTs), from a requirements standpoint, in which the following contractors have been identified:
Sector (LOT) 1: OTE (areas of Thrace, Macedonia, Western Epirus, Northern Aegean), value 44.375.478 euros.
Sector (LOT) 2: INTRAKAT- INTRACOM HOLDINGS- HELLAS ON LINE (areas of Thessaly, Eastern Central Greece, Southern Epirus, Euboea, Cyclades), value 60.315.940 euros.
Sector (LOT) 3: OTE (areas of Peloponnese, Central Greece, Dodecanese, Crete), value 56.385.614 euros.
Source: imerisia.gr
