Fiber optic mandatory. The government is preparing a revolution in construction

The Polish government plans to introduce regulations that will impose on investors and owners of single-family houses the obligation to install fiber optic infrastructure during the construction and modernization of buildings. The project prepared by the Ministry of Digitization was published on the government platform, and the change was included in the amendment to the so-called mega-act available at the Government Legislation Center. The aim of the initiative is to accelerate the development of ultra-fast Internet throughout the country.

New regulations

The proposed regulations adapt Polish law to the EU regulation, which is to come into force in April 2024. According to the project, all newly constructed and renovated single-family houses should be equipped with a fiber-optic connection. Thanks to this, developers and contractors will have to provide access to modern telecommunications services without additional costs for future owners.

The amendment also provides for the simplification of administrative procedures. The obligation to obtain the consent of the President of the Office of Electronic Communications issued in consultation with other offices will be abolished, which will shorten the formalities by at least 30 days. In matters of infrastructure location, the principle of tacit consent of UKE is to be introduced, which will further streamline the investment process.

The project also organizes fees for running the network on internal roads. The maximum rate is not to exceed PLN 1 per year per m² of area, and during construction works, the fee for occupying 1 m² will amount to PLN 20 per day. The solution is intended to reduce excessive costs incurred by investors and standardize practice in municipalities.

The changes include the coordination of construction works on both public and private projects. The extension of planning regulations is intended to prevent situations in which local planning acts block the construction of telecommunications infrastructure. As a result, investments will be easier to implement and work will be better synchronized between process participants.

Simplifying procedures

An important element of the amendment is also the simplification of procedures for high-capacity networks. Decisions regarding the location of such investments will be made by the voivode, and other authorities will be limited to issuing opinions or arrangements. This model is intended to shorten the administrative path and accelerate the development of modern digital infrastructure, especially in areas where access to high-speed Internet is limited.

The introduction of mandatory optical fiber in new and modernized homes is a step that is intended to increase the availability of gigabit services and raise the standard of technical equipment in buildings. Structured fees, the tacit consent of UKE and the voivode’s competences in location decisions create a package of tools that – according to the project – are intended to accelerate the pace of digitization and reduce investment barriers.