EU encourages rapid broadband expansion

The European Commission yesterday said that member states should be able to make the availability of broadband to their citizens one of their priorities over the coming years.

In a new communication issued yesterday, the Commission said that it considers wide broadband coverage in Europe as crucial for fostering growth and jobs.

It thus proposed that EU telecoms legislation and structural and rural policy instruments should be mobilised in full respect of state aid rules in a joint drive to bring high-speed broadband internet access to all Europeans, in particular to the EU's less-developed areas.

In order to accelerate the roll-out of advanced broadband communications in Europe, the Commission proposed that national broadband strategies should be strengthened in line with clear targets and that the exchange of best practices is stepped up.

Broadband is one of the fastest growing among new communication technologies in Europe.

The number of total broadband lines in the EU has quadrupled in just three years. On a member state level, Malta is currently doing very well in broadband and is considered the most advanced out of the new member states with a 12 per cent penetration.

However, broadband growth is uneven across member states.

The best performers on broadband penetration are The Netherlands, Denmark and Finland with a penetration rate above 20 per cent. Belgium and Sweden follow closely and the UK and France have achieved 15 per cent. Most of new member states and Ireland and Greece lag behind, with Greece, Poland, Slovakia, Cyprus, Latvia, Hungary and Ireland at penetration rates below five per cent in October 2005.

Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media, said in a press conference that broadband internet connections are a prerequisite for e-business, growth and jobs throughout the economy. She said that competition and open markets are the best drivers of broadband in the EU, however broadband connections must not be limited to the big cities.

"If the EU and its 25 member states make a clever use of all policy instruments, broadband for all Europeans is certainly not out of reach by 2010. But the time to act is now."