Press Release: State aid: Commission endorses public funding for broadband in Kärnten, Austria

The European Commission on 24 October 2005 authorised, under EC Treaty state aid rules, a broadband initiative by the Austrian Land of Kärnten. The scheme was meant to enable citizens and businesses to have access to fast Internet connectivity in areas which did not currently have it. Although the scheme also supported advanced broadband services for professional users, the Commission concluded that the aid was not likely to distort competition significantly within the EU.