EC debate on Europe-wide broadband

The European Commission (EC) has launched a debate on how to provide broadband access to every European household by 2010.

According to EC figures, seven per cent of the EU's population do not have access, with the number 30 per cent in rural areas.

There is also disparity between different member states - Denmark, Belgium and Luxembourg all have 100 per cent coverage, while the figure is less than half in Romania and even the likes of Italy and Germany only reach 82 per cent and 88 per cent respectively.

"High-speed internet is the passport to the information society and an essential condition for economic growth," said Viviane Reding, EU telecoms commissioner.

"This is why it is this Commission's policy to make broadband internet for all Europeans happen by 2010."

However, despite the lack of access in some places, the broadband market does appear healthy in the EU, with usage tripling from 2003 to 2007 to 36 per cent of households.

Ms Reding also pointed out that the top eight EU countries are far ahead of the USA in terms of broadband uptake.