Broadband technology key to ‘eEurope’, says Liikanen

Date: 21/02/02

By Peter Chapman

INFORMATION society chief Erkki Liikanen is this week set to outline his vision for encouraging more use of ultra-fast internet technology.

The Finnish Commissioner will tell EU ministers that the speed and capacity offered by 'broadband' connections is essential for the next phase of his 'eEurope' initiative - set to run from 2002 to 2005.

But despite liberalisation of telecoms markets and a new law meant to boost internet use through greater competition in local phone networks, Liikanen admits more needs to be done to make broadband a reality.

'If we don't roll out broadband in whatever form that takes we can't spread or develop services that require the transfer of large amounts of data such as e-government, multi-media, entertainment and e-health,' said Liikanen's spokesman, Per Haugaard.

At this week's informal ministerial in Vitoria, Spain, Liikanen will tell ministers there needs to be more focus on increasing competition in broadband services coupled with ambitious targets for take-up to be achieved by 2005.

Haugaard said this would mean boosting asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) technology - which uses existing copper phone lines.

It would also involve ensuring provision of competing broadband technology through cable TV networks, satellite and 'third-generation' mobile services, he argued.

Despite last year's regulation forcing open the last mile or 'local loop' of phone lines, there have been few rivals to the old telecom monopolies entering the market for ADSL.

Haugaard said the Commission would weigh up a reply from Berlin due this week - in response to a warning letter sent in December over the way Germany had applied the local loop unbundling law.

German regulators had been accused of allowing dominant operator Deutsche Telekom to shut out rivals in the ADSL market while rapidly rolling out its own service.

The eEurope effort is likely to be spurred following an agreement by MEPs, the Council of Ministers and the Commission on a formula for the new '.eu' internet domain name, which Union officials hope will rival the ubiquitous '.com'.

MEPs are expected to support a report tabled by former Commission official Colette Flesch that would pave the way for the launch of the new domain name.

Haugaard said her report has been pre-approved by the Commission and EU governments - meaning '.eu' would be rubber-stamped without the need for a time-consuming second reading in Parliament.

Information Society Commissioner Erkki Liikanen is set to outline his vision for encouraging more use of ultra-fast internet technology.