The Network Society - University of Massachusetts Amherst

The first ‘i’ is for information space
Policies of Transition to the Network Society in Europe 379
The aim is the creation of open and stable markets for electronic
communications services and the emerging digital services economy.
The next five years will see continuing rollout of broadband. And convergence
between the currently separate domains of internet, telephone
and television will come to market-place. Broadband coverage
in the EU15 is already at 80% of population. But so far we have 8 subscriptions
per 100 citizens. It means that perhaps every fourth household
is connected.
The recent Commission report shows clearly that those countries
in Europe that have the most competition are also the areas that lead
in broadband take-up. There are new opportunities from the rollout
of third generation mobile phones, which is now finally taking off,
other wireless technologies such as RLAN (radio-based local area networks)
and satellite.
The use of the Internet to provide voice telephony (VOIP) and television
will revolutionise the way in which we communicate, do business
and are entertained and there is much to be gained from
accelerating this transition.
The Commissioner also has as a target to create an internal market
in information goods and services, such as content, games, interactive
software and value added services. It is essential to create the conditions
to facilitate the production and distribution of online European
content, preserving and sharing Europe’s different cultural identities,
strengthening the single market and the economic strength of this
important sector.
The second ‘i’ is for innovation and investment in ICT
Digital convergence will transform the electronics industry, e-communications
and digital content and services over the coming years.
The Commissioner has emphasized here three issues: First, the need
of private-public partnerships to keep Europe in the vanguard of
developments. The aim is to create more certain investment environments
and a faster, more efficient rollout of world-leading services for
citizens. Second, there is the need to strengthen the position of
Europe in research. Europe has research leadership in some areas, but it