16 May 2007

Broadband access should be accessible to all individuals and companies in order for global progress to take place, but not all at the expense of the taxpayer, European competition commissioner Neelie Kroes has said.

At the Bridging the Broadband Gap conference, Ms Kroes backed the prospect of government aid in low-population rural communities in places such as Ireland and Greece, where a lack of competition between broadband services has prevented growth.

However, where there are two competing means of gaining broadband - via telephone lines and cable television - government should make no business intervention, she said.

"It is vital that public broadband schemes are well-targeted and well-structured," Ms Kroes added.

She said that the European commission has done what it can by developing a framework for intervention in certain areas and that the task now lies with the private sector.

Some 25 broadband projects have been approved by the European Union's executive commission, according to RTE Business.

© Adfero Ltd

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