Brussels, 02/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - Research by telecommunications consultants SPC Network, commissioned by ECTA (the European Competitive Telecommunications Association) suggests that the EU could get 20 million more broadband connections if regulators speeded up the introduction of competition on the market. The research suggests that in areas where competition had only increased by 1%, broadband coverage had increased by 3%. Entitled 'Broadband in the EU: the importance of dynamic competition to broadband growth,' the report examines broadband coverage and competition in 21 countries, following the publication in early February of ECTA's league table (see EUROPE 9129). 'Put simply, opening markets provides a greater opportunity for providers to innovate and drive down prices,' explained ECTA Director General Steen Clausen. He said greater diversity of products following this innovation allows consumers to find the services that best meet their needs in areas ranging from health to video on demand, services whose development is actively encouraged by the European Commission. 'Equipping SMEs with broadband will be critical to the development of the information society and ECTA will be pressing the Commission to accelerate the opening up of the market throughout this year's review (of the regulatory framework, Ed.),' added ECTA. In 2005, the European Commission launched a procedure to see what measures should be taken to speed up broadband penetration in the European Union, vital for the development of ITC.