Goal The project will implement a strategic expansion of broadband infrastructure in Dalarna in those locations in rural and sparsely populated areas where market conditions are lacking. The overall goal of the project is to strengthen the conditions for driving and developing SMEs in designated areas where there is currently no access to fibre. Project objectives: to contribute to the expansion of fibre up to areas where companies currently do not have access to this. Sub-targets: After round 1 (this project), localised fibre networks have been built to 90 areas where companies currently lack fiber. Implementation The project is carried out as a collaborative project between municipalities, city networks, County Administrative Board and Region Dalarna and affects 12 of the county’s 15 municipalities. Participating municipalities are Falun, Borlänge, Avesta, Säter, Ludvika, Gagnef, Leksand, Rättvik, Mora, Vansbro, Älvdalen and Malung-Sälen. The project is the first of several planned expansion projects. The implementation is based on the model developed jointly by the municipalities in Dalarna, the Dala Model, which is based on two pillars: 1) Coordinated development planning where the Kansliet Digital Dalarna jointly maps areas relevant for expansion. 2) Coherent structure for financing the expansion, up to the area with the Regional Fund and the regional networks where the Rural Development Programme’s efforts are important in achieving the best synergy and connecting businesses and households. The activities are based on the completed survey of needs and public consultations in which locations/streets are determined where physical investments for broadband are supportable in accordance with the definition of broadband support within the Regional Fund. Business participation There is a consensus in the county on the need for an expanded IT infrastructure, especially for companies. The entrepreneurs’ annual survey points to an increasingly lower grade for Dalarna’s technical infrastructure, which may eventually hamper development. In a national perspective, Dalarna comes far behind in terms of companies/households with access to fibre. Rural enterprise density is higher than in urban areas and consists largely of service companies in the tourism industry, a large part of these companies run by women. The Entrepreneurs participate in the steering group of the project. Expected results and effects Expected results after project completion are assessed, based on completed analyses, that the project affects 1 754 workplaces. After the project’s implementation, these areas will now be accessed by localised fibre and, ultimately, concrete connectivity opportunities for the companies in the area. In the long term, the project is expected to contribute to more than 90 per cent of Dalarna’s small and medium-sized companies as well as housing and other customer groups being able to connect to a fibre network. This is in line with the county’s and the country’s broadband targets and the project has played a regionally important role in the areas affected. As a result of improved digital conditions, Dalarna has become more attractive to companies and the growth and competitiveness of service and knowledge companies have improved.