A new study on the digitization plans of the EU member states was published at the beginning of the month. The study on the National Broadband Plans (NBP) examined the current status, objectives and measures for the expansion of broadband networks in detail. Experts from aconium GmbH collected data on this from all 28 EU member states between December 2015 and September 2016.
The study provides an overview of the current state of connectivity in the member states and also looks at the planned measures and their practical implementation to achieve the EU connectivity targets by 2020 as part of the Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE). The study is based on data from the European Commission, national authorities and the Digital Scoreboard. In addition, stakeholders from all 28 EU member states were interviewed in order to gain insight into the implementation of national plans in the respective countries.
Some key findings of the study:
- Meeting the ambitious national targets and broadband strategies based on the Digital Agenda for Europe is a challenge for most EU countries.
- The NBPs of the individual EU member states differ significantly in terms of content. Some do not have a dedicated document that functions as an NBP. However, all countries have general strategic concepts for NGA (Next Generation Access) network expansion.
- There are numerous conditional variables that influence the success of NGA network expansion in the individual countries. Successful NBPs take into account the respective starting situation of the country and define concrete measures that make use of the respective strengths of the country and at the same time mitigate the effects of specific disadvantages.
- The NBPs of the member states generally focus on two of the following areas: Demand measures, supply measures, regulatory and organizational measures and transparency measures.
- There is no universal solution for broadband expansion in Europe. NBPs of individual countries are therefore not transferable as a whole. However, individual measures can be applied under similar conditions.
The results of the study show that incentives for the expansion of digital infrastructure must be increased in order to further accelerate broadband expansion in Europe. The provision and use of fast and ultra-fast internet is crucial for Europe’s future economic and social development and for its global competitiveness.
With the strategic goals for the Gigabit Society 2025, the European Commission has set a framework for Europe’s digital development. In order to adequately implement these goals, all players and stakeholders are called upon to work together. The member states must invest and create incentives, local players and the ICT industry must take advantage of the offers. Here, the EU Member States should build on existing successful measures, but be even more ambitious. This applies not only to incentives and support measures, but also – particularly in view of the European Commission’s connectivity strategy for the gigabit society – to the objectives, which should be geared towards the economic and social visions for Europe’s future.
Detailed results can be found in the NBP study.