BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – One day before its first digital conference, the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) appeals to politicians to expand the infrastructure in Germany more quickly. Internet, energy and water supply should have the highest priority as a “decisive location factor”, said VKU general manager Ingbert Liebing on Monday. “Our country needs an infrastructure update. In the next legislative period, politics should focus on digging and excavating for Germany.” Fiber optic expansion plays a central role here.
According to the results of a representative Civey survey, which the association presented on Monday, the expansion of fiber optic networks has the highest priority for more than half of Germans (53 percent). This is followed by electricity, gas and heating networks for the energy transition (38 percent) and the infrastructures for reliable water supply and wastewater disposal (37 percent). Only six percent of those questioned saw no need for action in any of the infrastructure projects mentioned in their location.
A survey among the municipal utilities commissioned by the association also stated that it set similar priorities. According to this, 65 percent of the companies surveyed stated that the expansion of fiber optic networks was the largest construction site. More than half (54 percent) mentioned the expansion of the electricity, gas and heating networks. For the experts from the field on site, only the expansion of charging stations for electromobility (46 percent) took precedence over the infrastructures for water supply and wastewater disposal (38 percent).
The association complained about bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of planning security as central obstacles to the expansion of networks. With a view to investing in climate-friendly power supply, there is still a need for action and reform, said Liebing, head of the association.
On Tuesday, the association wants to discuss the challenges for municipalities as part of its digital conference with actors from politics, science and business. Political guests include Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), several federal ministers and the party leaders of the CDU, Greens, SPD and FDP./faa/DP/nas
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