2 June 2005
An innovative scheme aimed at developing awareness and jobs in the Internet and media industries has been adopted by the European Commission.
The initiative, 'i2010: European Information Society 2010', will be introduced to promote high-speed and secure broadband networks across Europe and help create an open and competitive single information market within the EU.
The commissioner responsible for information society and media, Viviane Reding, said the initiative's adoption represents a long awaited development.
"Today, we see digital convergence actually happening," said the commissioner. "Voice over IP, Web TV, on-line music, movies on mobile telephones - all this is now reality.
"To enhance investment in this promising sector of the economy, we must provide a coherent regulatory framework for Europe's digital economy that is market-oriented, flexible and future-proof."
Reding added: "And we must focus our research spending on key information and communication technologies, such as nanoelectronics."
The i2010 initiative will also lead to a rise of EU investment in research on information and communication technologies (ICT) by 80 per cent, according to the EC.
This increase should see Europe catch up with Japan and the US in terms of ICT research.© DeHavilland Information Services plc
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