Apply for funding for the expansion of mobile communications coverage in the state of Hesse

Hesse is closing the gaps in coverage so that every citizen can surf and make mobile phone calls. The funding program takes effect in areas where there is no mobile voice coverage and where there is no commercial expansion.

The mobile communications funding program aims to promote the expansion of mobile communications coverage in Hesse in areas with coverage gaps. For municipal companies or companies organized under private law that are wholly owned by the public sector, there is a funding option based on the "rental model".

Within the rental model, the expenses for the initial provision of passive infrastructure for mobile communications equipment for use by network operators to operate a mobile communications network are subsidized. The implementation can take place in the "construction contract variant" or the "construction concession variant". Funding is also available for expenses for external consulting and support services that serve to prepare and support projects.

In the "construction contract variant", the grant recipient carries out or commissions the construction of the passive infrastructure itself on the basis of planning data from interested mobile communications companies. The grant recipient is the lessor of the passive infrastructure.

In the "construction concession variant", the grant recipient puts the construction and operation of the passive infrastructure out to tender as a construction concession on the basis of a search circle and other planning data from the mobile communications companies. The concessionaire becomes the lessor of the passive infrastructure.

For mobile communications companies as applicants, there is the possibility of upgrading state-owned BOS sites (BOS = authorities and organizations with security tasks) for mobile communications sharing. The costs of the infrastructure required for mobile radio transmitters on the BOS radio masts are eligible for funding.

Please contact the Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen.

Forms available: No

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance necessary: No

Online services available: Yes

• Funding is primarily provided to Hessian districts, cities and municipalities
• But also companies organized under private law that are in sole public ownership (100 percent).
• Funding is only possible in regions in which there is currently no mobile voice coverage and in which there are no plans for a commercial expansion by mobile communications companies in the next three years after the start of the market exploration procedure

After receipt of the grant notification, it can be contested before the competent administrative court within a period of four weeks.

• You submit the application with all the necessary documents online via the customer portal of Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen (WIBank).
• The application will then be reviewed by Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen (WIBank).
• After a successful review, the Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen (WIBank) issues the funding or loan approval.