EU Structural Funds for broadband internet 23-03-2006 The European Commission plans to make broadband internet access available to
every EU citizen within four years. High-speed internet connections have become
an economic necessity across Europe, according to European Regional Policy
Commissioner Danuta Hübner. The EC wants private enterprise to build the
networks, but intends to subsidise construction in remote rural areas where this
is not commercially viable. In order to do so, the EU wants to make available
Structural Funds. The plan seems to have full support of the Commission, no
fewer than four Commissioners presented the plan together.
Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding, Competition Commissioner
Neelie Kroes, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner and Agriculture and
Rural Development Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel presented the joint strategy
to plug the gaps in terms of access to and coverage of high-speed broadband
internet in Europe.
By 2010, the Commission has two targets:
The Commission is pleased with progress so far: in 2005, 25% of European
households had access to broadband - with peaks of 90% in urban areas - and 60%
of companies and households in the remote and rural areas of the EU-15. The EU
now has 60 million broadband connections for its 460 million citizens. The
Netherlands tops the list, together with Denmark and Finland. There are large
differences between rural and urban areas: broadband penetration is absent in
13% of rural areas and most of the new member states are lagging behind, with
sometimes less than 10% penetration.
Danuta Hübner stated that "where there are genuine market failures", the
Commission and member states must reach agreement whereby certain sums from the
EU Structural Funds can be invested in Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs). In poorer regions, the 'convergence' objective should serve
to develop basic infrastructure and in regions under the 'competitiveness and
jobs' objective, the money should be used to support the adaptation of SMEs and
human capital.
LinksSource: EISSource: Radio Netherlands back |
| ||
 | ||
| ||
| | |
