Brussels, 21/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 20 January, the European Commission published a table of the state aid for the deployment of high and very high speed broadband it had approved in 2010. With 20 approvals worth a total of €1.8 billion in public funds for these networks, the Commission is pursuing its digital agenda goals set in the EU 2020 strategy.
The aid approved in 2010 was more than four times the amount allowed in 2009. The aim was, above all, to contribute to investment in the roll out of high speed internet across the whole of the European Union, including rural and remote areas, for the benefit of individuals and business. The aid will potentially generate up to €3.5 billion of investment in a sector where private investment is not enough to achieve the targets set, yet a sector which generates employment and which is essential to the smooth running of the EU's economy and its competitiveness.
While continuing to encourage the “smart use” of public funds to bring high speed and very high speed internet access to as many Europeans as possible, the Commission will ensure that public support does not crowd out private investment and that alternative operators get effective and non-discriminatory access to the subsidised broadband infrastructures.
This national aid complements the €2.3 billion from EU structural funds for the development of broadband infrastructure for the 2007-2013 financing period, the €360 million already used from the Fund for Rural Development, and the €2.3 billion invested by the European Investment Bank (EIB) in 2009. (F.G./transl.rt)