broadband strategies handbook.pdf - Khazar University

To help SMEs to use broadband networks and services most effectively,governments have adopted a variety of innovative outreach programs. TheDutch government, for example, has launched a program to stimulate andsupport the creation of applications for local SMEs (box 6.3). In Spain, thegovernment is providing specific training for employees of SMEs, whileGermany and Sweden have also established programs to provide training toSME employees to increase their ICT skills and increase their competitiveness.In Denmark, the government launched a program to train SMEs, providingassistance through private consultants and helping individuals toobtain the needed ICT skills to start e-businesses. 12 Providing support toSMEs to help them better use broadband is one of the important goals of theU.S. National Broadband Plan (United States, FCC 2010, sec. 13.1).AffordabilityIn identifying demand-side barriers to broadband adoption, policy makersaround the world have identified affordability as one of the main reasonsthat people do not use broadband services where they are available. ThePew Internet and American Life Project, as well as the U.S. Department ofBox 6.3: Stimul ation of Local Applications Development for SMEsin the NetherlandsThe Netherlands created a center for the developmentof local applications for SMEs.The center is half publicly funded, and projectsrequire the participation of private developers.The center focuses on specific sectors ofthe economy (for example, hotels, restaurants,health), but also promotes cross- sectorapplications. Examples of applications createdin this center are SME-specific solutionsfor customer relationship management,Internet marketplaces, and applications tomanage radio frequency identification (RFID)and integrate PDAs in business processes.The center also works as a knowledgebank that disseminates projects amongSMEs through seminars and workshops. Inaddition, it tracks potential “breakthrough”applications on a sector-by-sector basis todisseminate them as best practices and ensuretheir expansion among SMEs throughoutthe country.Sources: European Commissio n, “Information and Communication Technologies National Initiatives,”http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/ict/ebsn/national-initiatives/index_en.htm; Netherland BreedbandLand,http://www.nederlandbreedbandland.nl/.Driving Demand for Broadband Networks and Services 259