European Commission Seeks 'Broadband For All'

Over recent years, broadband has moved from being a desirable to an essential component of the digital economy; indeed, many countries as well as the European Commission are considering whether to make it a part of the "universal service" of telecom activities, which should be made available to all consumers. A study prepared for the Commission last year highlighted benefits of broadband in terms of labor productivity, employment levels and economic growth. The study claimed that as many as 2 million jobs could be created by a rapid development of broadband within the European Union, as well as an increase in foreign investment. Advocates of universal broadband claim there are particularly important benefits in terms of rural and regional development, since it makes remote working a more practical proposition, and reduces the "peripherality," which has often been seen as a constraint on growth in those areas.