Broadband Internet
DID YOU KNOW?
Citizens anywhere in Europe can be connected to broadband Internet NOW thanks to satellite. For satellite, it makes no difference whether they live on mountains, in protected natural countryside or in sparsely populated areas.
ESOA was invited to participate in this year's "Global Forum/Shaping the Future" event; an annual international event, dedicated to the Economic, Political, Social and Societal issues related to the successful evolution of the Information Society.
View Presentation
The EU still suffers from a digital divide. According to the Broadband Coverage in Europe Report, commissioned by DG INFSO in 2009, at least 10 million households are not covered by any terrestrial broadband solution.
Satellite broadband presents a serious alternative to terrestrial solutions thanks to significant technological advances. That said, it is not a competing technology but a complementary one as satellite serves first and foremost those areas where it is commercially unattractive for terrestrial operators to go. Next generation broadband satellites and new dedicated payloads will enable 2 million households to be connected within the next two years.
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Considering the scale of the European digital divide (in the range of 10m unconnected and poten
tially up to 30 million 'underserved' (today using unsatisfactory connections), there is potential for many more new next generation satellites to be procured to deliver on this EU objective, which is central not only to the European Digital Agenda adopted on 19th May 2010 but also to growth and the new EU Competency on Space Policy.
The European Commission has a Digital Agenda target of 100% coverage by 2013.
The environment exists and even calls for good progress to be made to achieving this objective thanks to satellite:
- New satellite capacity dedicated to broadband based on the investments of satellite operators in Europe
- Eligibility of end-user satellite ground equipment (dish & terminal) for public funding
- Availability of EU Funds & the pending risk for numerous Member States, especially the new Member States, of "de-commitment" (loss of allocated regional (structural) funds as they have not been spent within the given deadline)
Does Satellite Broadband Work?
> Read about different case studies in the EU.
> Tests confirm viability of satellite broadband
Press Release:
Satellite operators applaud DG Regio Initiative to encourage use of ERDF to achieve 2020 objectives. 7 October 2010
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BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY VIA SATELLITE |
