Europe does not need an Australian-style NBN Co to push deployment of next-generation networks, Digital Agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes says.
Instead, rules outlined in the Agenda, a recent Broadband Communicationand Radio Spectrum Policy will be sufficient to achieve the European Commission’s goals of offering basic broadband access for all citizens by 2013, high speed access by 2020, the commissioner told telecomasia.net.
“What is essentially different between the Australian and European telecom environment is that Europe favors a market driven approach,” Kroes said in an exclusive interview.
While the Digital Agenda and Broadband Communication set out similar targets to Australia’s goal of 100% penetration, the EC prefers to work on regional, national and local initiatives that can stimulate private investment, she explains.
Indeed, the EC should only become involved in individual rollouts “if the market fails to deliver,” she said.
However, it is essential that member states keep their broadband plans up-to-date and look to cut the cost of deploying infrastructure by co-coordinating civil engineering works, highlighting existing infrastructure that could carry cable, and upgrading the wiring in buildings.