EU: 30Mbps broadband to everyone by 2020

[nsane.forums]

$9 billion in budget cuts apparently isn't enough to derail the EU's plans.

Under the European Union’s Digital Agenda for Europe, all member states are to offer a minimum level of 30Mbps broadband to everybody by 2020. (Some countries, like Denmark and Finland, are already nearly there.) But last month, over $9 billion designated to accelerate this broadband deployment was slashed from the EU budget as part of massive budget cuts. The cuts have raised doubt about whether the soon-to-be-28-member-nation group will make the 30Mbps goal. But Neelie Kroes, the EU’s Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, is still intent on getting to that ambitious target.

In a new speech in Brussels on Tuesday, “Steelie Neelie” outlined a plan that would take advantage of existing infrastructure and construction sites, as is already the case in some EU member states.

First, she called for unifying regulations: “Why spend extra money and effort duplicating what's already there? So this regulation will ensure telecoms companies know what is already out there and will open up access to it—with fair and reasonable prices and conditions.”

Second, she called for “operators and providers to work together, especially when taxpayer money is at stake." She also wants to work on eliminating the EU’s notorious red tape. “Conditions would be more transparent, requests could be made through a single point, and by default decisions should be taken within six months,” she said.

Finally, “all new buildings and major renovations will have to be equipped for high-speed broadband,” she said.

This is just a proposal, and it will have to wind its way through the EU's bureaucracy. We’ll be pleasantly surprised if the EU can act on it within six months.

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[DKT27]

*Plans to move to EU by 2020*.

[Arachnoid]

Some UK customers living in remote or out of town regions can barely get above dial up speeds, the thought of 30Mbps is merely smoke and mirrors to them.

[sanjoa]

I'm moving to EU in 2020 :dribble:

[LeetPirate]

*Plans to move to EU by 2020*.

Best to wait and see, at the current rate the EU will crash soon, there is only so much those leeches could suck out of Germany.

[ffi]

Don't think the EUSSR will give you anything for free, what it gives you it has first stolen from you (in the form of taxes, levies and fines). Being forced to pay for 30Mb/s broadband leaves you with the consumer with less choice to consume other products which you might prefer over fast internet and no doubt that since that this "gift" from the EUSSR will come with many strings attached those communists will surely control your internet since they gave it to you for free (which they didn't you paid for it more than 100% for yourself, the rest of course those thieving communist will take for themselves).

BTW I wonder what ars technica means when they write “Steelie Neelie”, do they mean steel as in the english or steel as is dutch (to steal) because Neelie Smit Kroes is infamous for her corruption and shady business dealings and association with organised crime in the Netherlands... (google Dirk-Jan Paarlberga big friend of hers, in whose house she lived in for some time....). I have no doubt that she has many friends with some broadband providers that would really welcome such strive for fast internet (which they of course will deliver for a price...)