Van Weede
Cable Europe has said the European Commission’s broadband strategy recognises the need to spur telcos into making fibre investments has been stimulated by the market presence of the cable sector.
“There is a growing – and encouraging – awareness about the importance of a mix of technologies driving connectivity,” said Caroline Van Weede, managing director of the trade body. “We’re calling on Europe to ensure that public funding mechanisms tightly focus on areas where private investments are not commercially viable, such as sparsely populated areas. If the Commission is to work with bodies such as the EIB it is even more important that stakeholders providing ultra fast broadband are considered equal – and consulted. Placing public funds in areas where services exist does not make sense.”
A package of measures to encourage the delivery and take up if ultra-fast broadband was announced yesterday (Monday), by Neelie Kroes, vice president of the European Commission for the Digital Agenda.
In addition to its communication on how to encourage public and private investment in broadband, the Commission has put forward a proposal that provides regulated access to Next Generation Access networks that it believes provides a balance between investment and competition. A Radio Spectrum Policy Programme has also been proposed to ensure the availability of spectrum for wireless broadband.
