Papastergiou discusses broadband enhancement program with Mayors of İskeçe
The digital transformation of municipalities, broadband expansion, and the launch of new programs were at the center of a working meeting held this morning by Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou with the mayors of İskeçe Regional Unit, as well as the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Christodoulos Topsidis.
According to the minister, a total of 320 proposals have been submitted nationwide for the “Smart Cities” program. While the number is considered satisfactory, he acknowledged existing delays due to limited staff and emphasized the need for both municipalities and the ministry to accelerate implementation.
“Up to now in İskeçe,” Papastergiou noted, “the Municipality of Topeiros has already received approval and is awaiting tendering. The Municipality of İskeçe will receive approval this month, while Avdira is expected to be approved by the end of the year. The Municipality of Myki still needs to complete its procedures in order to submit a proposal.”
Speaking to the Athens–Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), Papastergiou underlined that new programs are being launched to provide broadband connectivity and fiber optics in suburban areas where there is no commercial interest. “In Meriç, the project has already started, and we are moving southward so that all regions can benefit from higher internet speeds. All modern administrative services now depend on fast connections for better citizen service,” he said.
The minister also discussed the “Syzeuxis” project, which interconnects public with private buildings. “I asked the mayors for further cooperation and proposals, especially in cases where connectivity problems exist in municipal buildings, so that we can address them immediately,” he added.
During the meeting, Papastergiou announced that within the next 15 days, a public tender will be launched to strengthen television signal coverage with transmitters in so-called “white areas” of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region. In İskeçe specifically, nine transmitters are expected to be installed.
As part of his visit to İskeçe, the minister also toured the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) and met with Rector Fotis Maris, who highlighted the excellent cooperation between the university and the ministry. The minister was shown various facilities and praised the university’s efforts, emphasizing its ambition to become a regional hub of innovation in Southeast Europe.
“I am very pleased,” Papastergiou said after the tour. “Excellent work is being carried out at DUTH across many fields. It is no coincidence that the first modern-generation nanosatellite, which is now in orbit, originated here. This shows how effective targeted funding can be, such as the Recovery Fund resources we allocated for satellite construction. There is significant scope for collaboration, and we are already working in that direction.”
