The Bergstraße district in Hesse demonstrates how a combination of self-funded and government-supported fiber optic expansion can lead to a Gigabit era. The Landkreis Bergstraße, home to nearly 275,000 residents, established the 'IKbit - Interkommunale Breitbandnetz' to achieve nationwide Gigabit coverage. The project secured nearly 20 million euros in funding, laying 230 kilometers of fiber optic cable. By 2022, 28 schools were connected to the network, supported by 380,000 euros from the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs. In December 2023, the project received 29 million euros in funding to connect approximately 7,200 households by 2028.