New chance to seek fiber money in Eskilstuna

One of those who have previously applied for the support is Stefan Wistrand, president of the Bondeka community association.

- In the past it was hopeless, the 4G network went way too slow, he says.

It was during an annual meeting in 2016 that Stefan Wistrand raised the issue of fiber expansion in Bondeka, which lies just over two miles outside Eskilstuna.

One year later, the association decided to apply for funding from the municipality for fiber investment in the countryside. Six months later, the network was operational. 27 out of 40 properties had joined.

- It means a lot to us and I am glad that so many wanted to hook up, says Stefan Wistrand.

And now the municipality has invested SEK 1 million in support for the broadband expansion in the countryside. The municipality sees a need to have fiber in the most sparse parts of Eskilstuna.

- We have developed a lot of fiber in the urban areas and now it is the sparse area that remains. Digitization will become increasingly important, says Eva Lehto, broadband coordinator at Eskilstuna Municipality.

Associations and fiber operators can submit applications between October 18 and December 18. But already this spring you could apply for money but then no applications came in.

- I hope this is because we were informing far too poorly and that it was too short an application period. Now we come out much better and we will see if it makes any difference, ”she says.

According to a new report from the Internet Foundation, 43 percent of those surveyed in the countryside had fiber, this year the figure is 55 percent. But despite this, it has been slow for many people living in the country to get fiber, as it is often an expensive investment.

Some actors say that there is a complicated, expensive and bare interest with fiber in the country, what do you say about it?

- It is different to build on the land than in the city, it is not only a road holder but there are several road holders and often sparsely between each house. In that case, it is a high demand to get the calculations together, she says.