NEWS Does everyone deserve broadband and a mobile phone? The EU has announced it's going to be pondering the question in the next few weeks.
Currently, European Union member states have no obligation to ensure each and every citizen has access to a mobile phone or broadband internet access. Today, however, the EU has called for contributions to the discussions on whether governments should have to provide connectivity to their citizens.
According to the EU, there's no need for governments to step into the mobile market just yet as it believes today's mobile market is cheap enough to make sure no would-be phone owners are excluded due to cost.
An EU report into the question concludes: "The evidence demonstrates that the competitive provision of mobile communications has resulted in consumers already having widespread affordable access to mobile communications."
Broadband, on the other hand, is still too much of a minority technology in the EU's eyes - it estimates just 8.8 per cent of Europeans connect over a fat pipe - to warrant any governmental interference.
"Broadband has not yet become necessary for normal participation in society, such that the lack of [it] implies social exclusion," the report said.
While broadband might be too undersubscribed and mobile too oversubscribed to necessitate a universal service obligation, the EU hinted it might revisit such regulation in the future should voice over IP become Europeans' telephony of choice.
"If voice telephony service moves increasingly to an IP environment, this would create an internet-like model, whereby anyone with a broadband connection could choose between a range of competing voice service providers. In such a scenario, the provision of telephone service as an access service would become ubiquitous, and the focus of universal service could evolve towards the provision of an affordable broadband access link," the report said.
Despite the decision to keep universal service obligation as they are for now, the EU is currently in the process of debating its forward looking policy, including the questions of whether both infrastructure and service should be covered and how any such obligations should be funded.
Comments
There are 15 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
2. Duncan Reynolds
Broadband is an environmentally friendly way of doing business. It can help considerably to reduce car journeys, in some cases eliminating them.
If everyone had access it would be a change for the better.
3. Phil
Perhaps EU governments should concentrate on ensuring food and shelter for all of their citizens before spending time and money discussing whether they have an obligation to "ensure each and every citizen has access to a mobile phone or broadband internet access".
4. A Tax Payer
Bureaucrats and politicians give them taxpayers money and they'll think up ways to spend it and areas to interfere with your life! We live in a society with wealth our grandparents could only dream of, I bet the politicians think that's down to them too.
5. Simon.
yeah and why don't we give everyone a free computer whilst we're at it, and as we don't want to socially exclude anyone lets give everyone a car too, it'll look good outside their nice new house that the government just bought them...
...arghhhhh
6. Matthew
Haven't they got anything better to talk about than everyone needing a computer and mobile phone (pathetic). What about dealing with the real issues like: fair trade justice, extreme poverty issues and the like?
7. anonymous
The EU can procrastinate all it likes regarding what freebies we may get but, after the French vote on Sunday, the EU may not exisit and the bureaucrats may not even have a job :-)
8. Dave P
The world's gone mad! (as if we didn't already know that)
9. Alan
Hey
We are not "Citizens" in this country but mere "Subjects" so we will get sod all... were is my grool
10. bobet
quick, someone invent an arse-wiping machine, you'll make a killing ....
11. Jay C
Clueless people cause malware to spread, by not securing machines 'cos they don't know how, let's not make the problem worse until e-security is actually thought through & implimented by joe public, I could go on & on!
12. anonymous
Yes resolve basic issues first like creating employment within Europe in manufacturing which will enable employment and fund such non critical activity .before we become 3rd World .. GET REAL !!!
13. not impressed
What is the point making sure everyone has a mobile phone and broadband when many have no food on their tables or a no roof on their homes? EU get your heads out of your arses
14. Rod
If you want something - pay for it
15. Phillip Goddard
It is inaccurate to claim that lack of access to broadband does not lead to social exclusion. With convergence more information is now transmitted in a video and voice format rather than text along with data intensive graphics that in turn requires broadband access.
The EU should create the market conditions for competitive supply of new technology communication systems that would create universal access to broadband connectivity at affordable prices. The economy of the future will require ubiquitous broadband access.