In many places, the expansion of the broadband network in rural areas is making very slow progress. The German Federal Association for Broadband Communication has now published the most recent edition of its broadband compass. It provides comprehensive information on the glass fibre projects run by the more than 100 members of the Association, in addition to technical articles and interviews on current issues relating to high-speed cabling.
The German Federal Association for Broadband Communication is also promoting cooperation between the local and/or regional carriers organised by it and the local authorities. In this respect, various models are conceivable: Cities and municipalities could, for example, expand glass fibre networks themselves and then transfer the operation and marketing of these networks to a carrier using a lease agreement. In the US, experience shows that the expansion of the broadband network using such location-specific models usually progresses much quicker than it is the case with country-wide projects.