“Gigabit Voucher”: Platform launched – More than 379,000 households and small and medium-sized businesses get broadband connections
From Monday, November 18, 2024, those interested can apply for the “Gigabit Voucher” at gigabit-voucher.gov.gr, in order to obtain ultra-high speed connection. It is an important action that is implemented in the context of the cooperation of the Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou and the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis and enables more than 379 thousand households and micro–medium businesses to obtain speed connections of at least 250 Mbps.
The “Gigabit Voucher” is a development project with a total budget of 80 million euros (including VAT) and is financed by the Recovery and Resilience Fund with resources of 23 million euros and by the Public Investment Program with more than 57 million euros.
In combination with the Program “Smart Readiness Vouchers” for the installation of optical fiber in 120,000 buildings, the aim is to strengthen broadband throughout the country and improve Greece’s position in the international ranking, as reflected in the European Commission’s annual report on the “Digital Decade”.
Beneficiaries will receive, without income criteria, a voucher worth 200 euros to cover part of the cost of acquiring a Gigabit service (at least 250 GBPs) and more specifically the cost corresponding to the initial connection, as well as the monthly price for the first 24 months of the subscription.
These are households and small and medium-sized businesses that do not already have a broadband connection with a nominal download speed of more than 100 Mbps and they live or have their headquarters / branch respectively in the Program intervention areas. The grant is given only once to each beneficiary, while they are not allowed to be supported by any other source, national or European.
The “Gigabit Voucher” procedure
More specifically, to issue and redeem the “Gigabit Voucher” the interested parties:
- They check the map on the Program website to find out if they can receive Gigabit services based on their home or business address. They type in the address to find out if they are covered by the providers’ networks in order to apply.
- They select ‘Submit Application’ and link to the Taxisnet codes to start the submission process.
- Next, they state whether they are interested in receiving a voucher for an existing or new connection. They then fill in the additional information required and, finally, accept the terms and conditions of the Program to complete the voucher issuance process.
- Those interested receive the voucher to their email address, as well as by SMS to the phone number they have indicated in their application.
- They then contact the provider from whom they wish to receive the Gigabit service, informing them of the voucher number they issued.
It is pointed out that providers will publish information on their offered services on the Program platform and must meet the following conditions:
- To have either a download speed greater than or equal to 250 Mbps or a symmetrical speed greater than or equal to 100 Mbps. The above minimum speeds should be available to the beneficiaries during peak hours.
- To include the terminal equipment of the end user (modem / router) necessary for its operation.
- Provide a discount at least equal to the amount of the Voucher in relation to the corresponding programs (with the same speed characteristics and included by-products) that were offered during the period before the announcement of the Program.
It is reminded that the disposal of the Gigabit Connectivity Vouchers will take place in four phases, which are related to the building connections through the “Smart Readiness” Program. The first phase will be completed with the distribution of 200,000 Gigabit connectivity vouchers during which 60,000 building connections of Smart Readiness must be completed.
The «Gigabit Voucher» Program is implemented by Information Society (KtP M.A.E.), operator of the Ministry of Digital Governance.