The project will implement strategic expansion of broadband in Värmland, where market conditions are lacking. The project involves 3 municipalities of the county’s 16 municipalities and gives 78 companies possible access to broadband with high capacity. In this project, which is the fourth of several, fiber expansion will take place to 11 stretches. All granted routes are specified in appendix attached to the decision. The result of the expansion is a localised/connection network that benefits the small and medium-sized companies in the rural and sparsely populated areas of Arvika, Karlstad and Munkfors, which contribute to their opportunities for development and growth. The planned projects are expected to contribute to the overall vision of Värmland; by 2020, all companies in Värmland must have access to broadband of at least 100 Mbps. The target is defined in Region Värmland’s Broadband Strategy 20132020 and in municipal broadband strategies. A better functioning broadband infrastructure benefits the structural transformation of the Värmland industry from commodity-producing heavy industry to a modern industry with higher service content. A higher service content, as well as companies’ participation in global value chains, loosens up the traditional gender division in the labour market, as service and knowledge-intensive activities are also attractive to women (who have a higher level of education than men).