Evolution of the EU broadband policy: towards an integrated framework?
Paper i proceeding, 2012
More than two decades, broadband has been recognized in the EU as having great
benefits for economic and social development. This recognition is evident in the first EU
policy document on the telecommunications market – the 1987 Green Paper – which
assumed that harmonization and liberalization through competition mechanisms could
be used as tools to bring all these benefits to European citizens. Although the policy
emphasized the competition mechanism in the years that followed, many additional
instruments were developed and implemented in order to make broadband available to
all European citizens. Some of the instruments can be seen in the form of regulatory
directives and some in more general policies. All of them make a considerable
contribution to the growth of broadband deployment in the EU. However, with
globalization, the policy impetus for broadband has shifted towards a means to increase
the competitiveness of a nation or region. This changing emphasis, due to globalization
and competitiveness, impacts the design of policy instruments. A question can be raised
as to which instruments can serve as a new concept for future broadband policy.
This paper presents an evolutionary concept for broadband policy in the EU by providing
a conceptual framework for integrating the related broadband policy instruments. A
timeline of all the instruments and initiatives that are being implemented in the EU is
explored. This evolution is analysed to see what kind of future concept is applicable
when broadband policy is based on a perspective of globalization, regional
competitiveness and sustainability. The analysis addresses how far the existing
instruments of the EU can serve a new concept of broadband policy and what the needs
are for new policy instruments
strategic agenda
broadband policy
network society
the EU
sector agenda