The European Commission said today it wants all European citizens to have broadband internet access by 2010 and it questions whether telcoms providers should be forced to provide a basic level of service.
Publishing a paper today, the Commission noted that average broadband take-up in the EU is just 20 per cent, with Ireland lagging behind that.
“In Ireland, while national DSL coverage is close to 90 per cent (over 70 per cent in rural areas), broadband take-up is below the EU average of 20 per cent at 17 per cent, and well behind those with highest usage in developed economies like the UK (26 per cent) and the Nordic countries (all over 30 per cent), the commission said.
It said broadband was a key tool in developing a knowledge economy. It questions whether a ‘safety net’ guaranteeing a minimum level of services is the way to proceed.
The commission has asked the institutions of the EU to discuss the question of whether there should be a universal service obligation on telecoms providers, in order to ensure users get a phone or broadband service, for example.
EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding will visit Ireland next week and will speak at a conference hosted by communications regulator ComReg.
“High-speed Internet is the passport to the Information Society and an essential condition for economic growth. This is why it is this Commission’s policy to make broadband Internet for all Europeans happen by 2010,” she said.
“A lot has been achieved over the past four years, and new tools, such as satellite broadband, are well on track.
“It is also good news that the eight best EU countries far outperform the US in broadband take up. But take-up requires access, and is not there in parts of the EU. We need to combine all efforts to make sure that all citizens can get connected soon.”
The commission said there are “striking gaps” in broadband coverage in the EU. A full 100 per cent of the population is covered in Denmark, Luxembourg and Belgium, but only 40 per cent in Romania (25 per cent in rural areas) have broadband access.
“Even in strong economies such as Italy and Germany, 82 per cent and 88 per cent respectively of the rural population are covered.”