Tech & Biz

European Commision: Broadband to be "Universal"

by francisrivera | September 28, 2008 at 09:31 pm | 87 views | 2 comments | 0 recommendations

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Brussels is considering making broadband access available for all.

The fast growth of broadband has led the European Commission to bring forward a review of the basic telecoms services Europeans can expect.

Current statistics suggest about 36% of households in EU member nations have high-speed net access.

When a majority of EU citizens are using a telecoms service, EC rules dictate that it becomes one every European should be able to enjoy.

Basic access

"High-speed internet is the passport to the Information Society and an essential condition for economic growth," said Viviane Reding, EU Telecoms Commissioner in a statement announcing the review.

"This is why it is this Commission's policy to make broadband internet for all Europeans happen by 2010."

The EC is inviting submissions from telecoms firms, governments and citizens with the aim of producing a communique in 2009 and perhaps legislation in 2010.

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Trevor Nivi (not verified)

at 03:41 on October 16th, 2008

I think this is a very good step forward, to make broadband available to all. Actually I am South Africa, working for the Universal Service and Access Agency of SOuth Africa. The Agency has published a discusion document on the definitions of universal service and universal access, needy people and under-serviced area. Part of the question we are asking is whether Broadband should be part of universal access- meaning deploying broadband to public ICT centres and ensuring that public institutions especially those that provide services to the people are connected to broadband.

Actually the government of South Africa is deploying public centres called Thusong Centres)that will provide e-government services to communities. So this is a good step in the right direction.

Thanks very much.

Trevor Nivi

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at 18:05 on October 19th, 2008

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