European Comr. Sees ‘Countless Markets’ Opened by Digital Transition
“The transition to digital will open countless markets,” said Viviane Reding, European Comr. for Information Society & Media at a European Institute lunch Wed. She used the film industry as an example: “The transition has made watching video possible on a growing number of technological platforms.” Reding said she also sees a large opening in the market for broadband providers.
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The EC’s recently adopted i2010 strategy for the digital economy “gives practical proposals with practical dates,” said Reding. “For the first time, we have commissioner in charge of the infrastructure and content regulation,” she told the lunch: “Coordinated action is everything.” The campaign will aid the transition from analog to digital before 2011, said Reding.
Regulation must begin with industry participants, moving from the bottom up rather than the usual top down, Reding said. While regulation and “legal certainty” are important to the commissioner, she said she wants to “leave alone the self-governing forces of the market.”
The campaign takes a 3-pillar approach to improving the digital industry, said Reding. The first involves securing the networks, protecting privacy and staying out of the way of the telecom industry. “We must avoid a patchwork of different data retention programs in Europe,” she said. The 2nd pillar is aimed at investment and research. “This requires getting all stakeholders on board,” she said. The 3rd is focused on bettering services for citizens such as health care and education. Reding also said creating and maintaining jobs in the industry is at the center of the initiative.