Tuesday 28 February 2012

Enhanced European communication network by 2020

Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission who is responsible for the Digital Agenda, gave a speech yesterday in Barcelona with a few promises concerning further development of European communication network (speech text may be found here). She intends to make sure that every European has at least 30 Megabit coverage by 2020 (4G technology may come in handy here) and at least half of them have ultra-fast access at over 100 Megabits. To achieve this aim she intends to support development of many new technologies, that if combined could lead to to European consumers getting used to obtaining better services and higher speeds (e.g. Fibre-to-the-Home, upgraded Cable, Fibre-to-the-Cabinet, LTE).

"European consumers will get used to obtaining better services and higher speeds, which will trigger new bandwidth-hungry applications and services, creating in turn the conditions for financing the competitive networks, wired and wireless, fixed and mobile, of 2020."

To encourage that development the European Commission has already released the digital dividend 800 Megahertz band for wireless broadband, which should be authorized by the Member States to be used by 1 January 2013 (six MS have already completed this process). New plans encompass finding and releasing more of wireless broadband by 2015 for e.g. radio programmes.

Finally, the EC encourages more competitive and sound policies regarding mobile phones use by consumers. From 2002 to 2010, mobile prices dropped 50% or more, but the aim is to lower these prices even more. Roaming regulations need to be adopted, as well, so that consumers may get the most value from the use of their smartphones also when travelling abroad.