NACE 61.1 – Wired Telecommunications Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 61.1 covers the operation and provision of wired telecommunications services — including fixed-line telephony, broadband internet via fibre and DSL, as well as dedicated data lines. For public authorities and public institutions, these services form part of critical infrastructure.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 61.1 cover?

NACE 61.1 (Wired telecommunications activities) classifies companies that operate physically cabled communication networks and provide the corresponding services — a core area of digital public services and a recurring procurement item in the public sector.

Group 61.1 within Section J (Information and Communication) and Division 61 (Telecommunications) covers the following activities:

Typical contracting authorities are federal ministries, regional administrations, municipalities, schools, hospitals as well as other public institutions that require wired communication services for their day-to-day operations.

Public Tenders: Sector NACE 61.1

Wired telecommunications is a constant topic in public procurement — from municipal administrations to federal authorities, fixed-line and broadband contracts are regularly re-tendered.

Typical types of contract

• Fixed-line telephony framework agreements: Provision of voice services including connections, call minutes, telephone system connectivity for authorities
• Broadband internet connections: Fibre connections (FTTH/FTTB), DSL lines for administrative buildings and schools
• Leased lines and rented lines: Dedicated data connections for secure government communication and administrative networks (e.g. TESTA, IVBB)
• Fibre rollout: Laying of fibre-optic cables under public broadband funding programmes
• VoIP infrastructure: Provision and operation of IP telephone systems for public institutions
• WAN connections: Wide-area networks to connect government sites

Thresholds and procedure types

Telecommunications framework agreements for public authorities frequently exceed the EU threshold for supplies and services (EUR 221,000 for central authorities, EUR 443,000 for other contracting authorities, as at 2024/2025) by a wide margin. Such contracts must be tendered EU-wide on TED — typically in the open procedure or as a framework agreement with multiple bidders.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 61.1

The link between the NACE classification and tender search is provided by the CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary), which must be stated in every EU contract notice.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on national procurement platforms such as Germany's DTVP or the Austrian tender portal.

Who is NACE 61.1 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Almost all public bodies rely on wired telecommunications services. The most significant contracting authorities include:

• Federal authorities: Ministries, federal agencies and subordinate authorities with a need for secure data lines
• Regional administrations: Procurement of broadband connections and fixed-line contracts for regional authorities
• Municipalities and local councils: Telephony and internet for town halls, kindergartens, municipal facilities
• Educational institutions: Schools and universities within education networks (e.g. school networks)
• Healthcare institutions: Hospitals and care homes in public ownership
• Central purchasing bodies: Procurement hubs such as the BBB (Germany) bundle telecommunications procurement

Companies and bidders

Telecommunications providers participating in public tenders under NACE 61.1 must typically provide the following evidence:

• Licence/authorisation: Telecommunications licence from the national regulatory authority (Federal Network Agency, RTR)
• Technical capability: Evidence of existing network infrastructure and references from the public sector
• Economic capability: Annual turnover, creditworthiness evidence, insurance
• Security requirements: For security-critical networks, BSI certifications or security clearances may be required

Given the growing fibre rollout, there are also increasing opportunities for medium-sized regional providers in local and municipal tenders.

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 61.1 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 61.1? All companies whose principal activity is the operation of wired telecommunications networks and the provision of the corresponding services — from large network operators (e.g. Deutsche Telekom, A1) to regional fibre providers.

How does NACE 61.1 differ from NACE 61.2? NACE 61.1 covers exclusively wired services such as fibre and DSL. NACE 61.2 concerns wireless services such as mobile communications and Wi-Fi. Many providers are active in both groups.

Are fibre rollout projects tendered under NACE 61.1? Yes — publicly funded fibre rollout projects (e.g. under the federal broadband funding programme) are tendered as public contracts and typically fall under NACE 61.1 as well as NACE 42.2 (construction of utility projects).

Are there EU-wide framework agreements for telecommunications? Several countries have centrally procured framework agreements: in Germany, the Federal Agency for Public Safety Digital Radio (BDBOS) coordinates nationwide communications infrastructure for authorities and emergency services. In Austria, the Federal Procurement Agency (BBG) concludes framework agreements for telecommunications services.

NACE 61.1 in context: Section J and Division 61

• NACE J – Information and Communication: Parent section with all ICT activities
• NACE 61 – Telecommunications: Division with all telecommunications services
• NACE 61.2 – Wireless telecommunications activities: Mobile communications and Wi-Fi infrastructure
• NACE 61.3 – Satellite telecommunications activities: Satellite services for remote sites
• NACE 62.0 – Computer programming, consultancy and related activities: Software development and IT consultancy

Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.