Eight proposals have been submitted under the procedure for the large-scale deployment of digital infrastructure, funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The total value of the project is BGN 468,857,652, and the deadline for submitting bids expired on Friday.
On the same day, the National Assembly adopted amendments to the Electronic Communications Networks and Physical Infrastructure Act, proposed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. These amendments simplify the administrative procedures for the issuance of permits by competent authorities for the construction, maintenance, development and modernisation of physical infrastructure used for electronic communications networks along existing roads, agricultural land and hard-to-reach settlements. Deputy Prime Minister Karadjov thanked the Members of Parliament for their support, stating that their vote in favour was key to advancing this critical NRRP project. "In small settlements, life carries on without being illuminated by the benefits of modern technologies. Had these amendments not been adopted, we would have significantly missed the project’s implementation deadlines. Now we are hopeful that we may even complete it two months ahead of schedule," Grozdan Karadjov said from the rostrum of the National Assembly.
The companies selected will develop infrastructure primarily in remote, rural and sparsely populated areas. At least 350,000 Bulgarians currently facing digital exclusion will soon gain access to high-speed internet. In addition, optical connectivity will be extended and improved to reach 140 municipal centres, and no fewer than 700 base stations will be connected to national backhaul networks.
One proposal was submitted for the Northwestern Planning Region, where BGN 84.84 million is allocated for high-speed networks. Two bids were received for the North Central Region, with a budget of BGN 61.08 million. There is one applicant for the Northeastern Region (BGN 66.6 million), one for the Southeastern Region (BGN 78.72 million), one for the South Central Region (BGN 87.6 million), and two bids for the Southwestern Region, where the allocated budget is (BGN 89.64million). The evaluation period for the submitted bids is three months, and the final deadline for implementing the NRRP activities is August 2026.
