New European Union rules on public funding for high-speed broadband networks will help speed up the roll-out of infrastructure in areas currently lacking such services, the European Commission said today.
The guidelines contain provisions on the deployment of Next Generation Access (NGA) networks, allowing public support to foster investment in this strategic sector without creating undue distortions of competition, a Commission statement said. It said €200-€300 billion would be needed in coming years for building NGA networks, with the private sector looking to governments for financial support.
The EU's executive Commission has pledged to make high-speed Internet a key element of its economic recovery plan to drive growth in the region. It aims to achieve 100 per cent broadband coverage for the region by 2010.
Reuters