BroadNet, a Brussels-based communications group, has been awarded licences to provide broadband telecoms services to Germany's 42 largest cities. This is the first time broadband network licences have been awarded in Europe, and BroadNet has applied to the Director of Telecommunications Regulation to build and operate an advanced digital broadband network in the Republic. It has said it will invest $100 million (€96.9 million) and create 400 jobs, if its application succeeds.

BroadNet says the new German licence leaves the company well placed to become Germany's second largest "local loop" operator after Deutsche Telecom.