Spain may provide broadband access as part of USO

Authorities in Spain are to consider whether or not to include broadband access within the country's Universal Service Obligation (USO).

Services such as payphones, standard telephony technology, social tariffs and narrowband internet access are included within Spain's current USO - or what it considers citizens have a legal right to - and broadband could soon be included, reports Ovum.

The Spanish consultation will look at issues such as the minimum connection speed that should be provided, what the cost should be to the consumer and whether wireless technology should be used.

In October, the Finnish government decided that every citizen has a legal right to broadband connection speeds of at least one megabit per second (Mbps) and this development has provoked debate throughout Europe.

The UK government has committed itself to speeds of 2Mbps by 2012, which could help deliver faster download times and more efficient VoIP solutions.

Major internet service providers such as Virgin Media and BT are investing heavily in next-generation technology.