site.btaParliament Adopts Amendments to Electronic Communications Networks and Physical Infrastructure Act on Second Reading

The National Assembly adopted amendments to the Electronic Communications Networks and Physical Infrastructure Act on second reading on Friday. The goal of the amendments is to shorten the timescales for issuing documents when building and commissioning digital technologies, and to recognize the growing importance of digital technologies in general.

Approximately 7,000 km of new optics will be built within the project and over 700 new base stations broadcasting 5G will be connected to the network, Transport and Communications Minister Grozdan Karadjov explained at the first reading. This project will benefit 350,000 people, Karadjov added.

One of the measures in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan foresees the building of networks with very high capacity and 5G, including small and remote settlements in a short time to meet the needs of citizens and businesses.

The MPs voted the Minister of Transport and Communications to adopt clear and specific rules for calculating the amount of compensation for easements on properties - private state or municipal property, as well as for the establishment of other limited property rights on properties.

The Parliament also decided to introduce measures to ease the regime applicable under the general procedure of the Spatial Development Act, which simplifies the administrative procedures for the issuance of acts by the competent authorities for the construction, maintenance, development and upgrading of physical infrastructure for the deployment of electronic communications networks in existing roads in hard-to-reach settlements, vast agricultural and forest areas.

This is perhaps the most large-scale investment in broadband for small, remote communities, the Transport Minister said after the adoption of the resolutions. Karadjov reminded that April 11 is the last day for submitting bids for the implementation of this investment. "Thanks to the adopted changes, we will meet the deadlines of the reconstruction plan by the end of June next year," he added.