BoR (11) 06b BEREC report NGA Country Cases - IRG

BoR (11) 06b
will give work to 400 people and will cost an estimated 96 million Euros, most of which will
come from European structure funds. The network connection will reach the end user from
the network access point either by fibre-optic or existing copper cable; in difficult cases a
wireless connection will be used and the last mile will be built by operators themselves
In years 2012–2015 the data transfer speeds will be increased, so that the end users
connected through the fibre-optic cabling will get speeds up to 2.5 gigabits, those with
copper a speed of up to 100 megabits and those connecting through wireless at either 42
or 100 megabits per second depending on the technology.
Estonia expects that the EstWIN Project will help to eliminate the digital division between
urban and rural regions, increase social cohesion and contribute to economic growth. The
availability of the necessary broadband infrastructure will be a key factor for the local
communities in attracting businesses, distance working, providing health care services and
improving education and public services.
The European Commission has authorised under the EU State aid rules Estonia's plans to
support the establishment of a country wide high speed broadband infrastructure, the
EstWIN project. In August 2010 the construction of EstWIN started. When the network
becomes operational, the network operator shall have an obligation to prove to the ECA
that the price charged for wholesale access is reasonable and non-discriminatory.
- Scope and envisaged target of the measure;
- Current achievements, milestones reached.
62