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European broadband boom
(21-04-08) - The European Commission has revealed that 250 million of the EU’s half a billion citizens are now regular internet users, with 80 per cent going online with a broadband connection
Its i2010 report - part of a digital strategy for the development of information communications technology in member states - detailed broadband growth in the bloc over the past year.
Overall, there were 99 million broadband lines across the EU in January 2008 - an increase of 23.8 per cent on the previous year.
Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden topped the broadband league table with 35.6 per cent, 34.6 per cent, 34.2 per cent and 31.2 per cent respectively, staying ahead of countries like Korea, Japan and the US even.
The UK came fifth with a respectable 25.7 per cent broadband penetration.
“However, some parts of the EU are still lagging behind and are not fully connected. All EU countries must therefore work harder to close the gaps, to enhance cross-border communication services as well as services that also reach rural and remote regions,” said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media.
In some countries - especially recent members - broadband penetration remains low. For example, 69 per cent of Romanians and 65 per cent of Bulgarians do not use the internet at all, compared to just 13 per cent in Denmark and the Netherlands.
Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “Although the UK is doing reasonably well in terms of broadband penetration, there’s clearly still more to be done, such as continuing to encourage marginalised groups - such as the single parents and the elderly - online.
“The Post Office’s (www.PostOffice.co.uk) decision to accept cash payments for its broadband was a great way of increasing access, and if more providers took initiatives like this, combined with falling prices and possibly shorter contracts, many more people who have been afraid to try broadband would be inclined to get online.”
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