Brussels praises supply of broadband, but notes a lack of competition

The European Union is one of the world's leading regions for fast internet connections. This emerges from the EU telecom report for 2007 presented in Brussels on 19th March, by the EU Commissioner responsible for that area, Viviane Reding. But she notes a lack of effective competition in some sectors: "Competition for access to the landline network is limited", she said.

Advertisement

Less than one-third of large telecoms providers dare go beyond their domestic limits, she says, "even though technology in itself knows no limits." The EU Commissioner concludes that an attractive internal market for companies and services aiming at Europe still does not exist. According to the Commission, the telecom sector makes annual sales worth €300bn, equivalent to two per cent of the EU's economic performance.

Although Reding says there still isn't enough competition in fast internet access in some EU states, she is happy with the sector. The published information puts the European Union among the world's leading regions. Denmark leads the list, in the EU and worldwide. In an international comparison, according to the Commission, South Korea is the highest-positioned Asian country, occupying fourth place. As of mid-2007, the Netherlands and Switzerland were still behind the leader, Denmark. The USA came 15th. Germany was in eighth place In the EU, 17th in the world.

(trk)