The high growth rates recorded by Greece’s telecommunications market in the construction of fibre-optic networks, following years of stagnation, are highlighted in an Instagram post by the Minister for Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou.
He says the Gigabit Voucher and Smart Readiness programmes played a decisive role in this development, making more than 370,000 vouchers available for high-speed connections and the creation of broadband infrastructure in apartment blocks.
Specifically, according to the minister, the Gigabit Voucher programme reached 306,469 vouchers, while Smart Readiness reached 64,214, with the aim of strengthening infrastructure and subsidising subscriptions.
The decision by Telekom to double or even triple internet connection speeds at no extra cost for around 700,000 households and businesses with fibre-optic service is also expected to contribute to further market growth.
Mr Papastergiou also believes the initiative could be followed by other companies in the sector, boosting competition and giving consumers more options.
“The country’s digital progress remains a key challenge for us”, the minister says, stressing that the aim is for more and more citizens and businesses to have greater opportunities in their daily lives and work by making use of fast, reliable internet connections.
Mr Papastergiou’s full post reads as follows:
“After years of stagnation, the telecommunications market in Greece is now recording one of the highest growth rates in Europe in fibre-optic network construction.
Both voucher schemes contributed to this: the Gigabit Voucher, with 306,469 vouchers for high-speed connections, and Smart Readiness, with 64,214 vouchers for creating broadband infrastructure in apartment blocks and subsidising subscriptions.
Telekom’s announcement yesterday that it would double or even triple internet speeds for around 700,000 households and businesses with fibre-optic service, at no extra cost, is also extremely helpful in this respect.
I am sure other companies in the sector will follow suit.
The country’s digital progress remains a key challenge for us. Among other things, this means giving more and more citizens and businesses greater opportunities in their daily lives and work through fast, reliable internet.”