What role should public money play?

 

One out of two European households can obtain very high internet speed and quality connectivity through a cable subscription. This speed advantage stimulates other companies to upgrade their networks, in particular where cable is present. Fixed technologies (xDsl[1] / FTTx)[2] wireless technologies (4G[3]/LTE[4]  and satellite) alike have the potential to give customers the broadband access they need.

 

Public money should not be spent in areas where competition and commercial resources have the potential to deliver the desired results.

 

Public funds should support network roll-out and upgrade only in remote and rural areas which would most probably remain underserved by market forces alone.

 

[1] xDsl: digital subscriber lines

[2] FTTx: fibre to the home, premises, building or curb

[3] 4G: 4th cellular generation

[4] LTE: long term evolutuion