European Union (EU) govts. should set long-term, concrete policy ...
European Union (EU) govts. should set long-term, concrete policy objectives for the Community’s eEurope program, the European Telecom Network Operators’ Assn. (ETNO) said Tues. In a statement to the spring summit of EU leaders, ETNO said that with the…
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rapid approach of eEurope’s 2005 deadline, investor confidence in the continent’s information and communications technology sector must be rebuilt. The recent cutback in investments is hampering the rollout of broadband and 3G, ETNO said. Internet penetration continues to grow, but viable business models are needed to “push this success story forward,” ETNO said. Moreover, it said, with implementation of the EU’s new e-communications package just months away, only technological neutrality and minimum regulation will raise investor confidence in the sector. Govts. must take a market-driven approach with a demand-oriented policy, ETNO said. Public sector participation via measures such as the use of structural funds “has a key role to play but should only be acceptable under fair and equitable conditions in order to avoid market distortions,” ETNO said. It said that because both network providers and consumers must be able to have trust in broadband services, initiatives aimed at improving network and information security were crucial. Meanwhile, Regional Policy Comr. Michel Barnier reported Tues. that structural funds -- which finance multiyear programs to foster regional development and structural changes -- are making a key contribution to promoting the information society. An evaluation of structural funding shows that between 2000 and 2006, more than 7% of such funds will go to measures in that area, he said. The study recommends that: (1) European regions invest more in strategy development and building regional capacity. (2) Regional information society priorities should be driven by regional demand and supply- side measures, and should offer a balance in terms of the development of telecoms, infrastructure such as broadband networks, access, digital content and applications and services. (3) Specific indicators and data should be developed to monitor progress in bridging the digital divide within and between regions.