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Sent: 28 November 2008 14:49
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Information Society Newsroom Update - 28/11/2008
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Europe's Information Society
Newsroom Update
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PRESS RELEASE
Broadband: Gap between best and worst performing countries in Europe narrowing (28 November 2008)Broadband penetration in Europe continues to grow, from 18.2% in July 2007 to up to 21.7% in July 2008, according to a report published today by the European Commission. The report also shows the gap between EU countries narrowing, from 28.4 percentage points in July 2007 to 27.7 this July. With 17 million fixed broadband lines laid in a year, today's figures show high-speed internet in the EU is more widespread and faster, while mobile broadband is starting to take off, with 6.9% penetration. Three quarters of broadband lines in the EU have download speeds of 2 millions of bits per second (Mbps) and above, a speed that supports TV over the Internet, for example.
PRESS RELEASE
SMS and Data Roaming: Commission welcomes swift endorsement by Telecoms Council (27 November 2008)Following the Telecoms Council's deliberations this afternoon, Viviane Reding, the EU Telecoms Commissioner, commented on the Roaming II Agreement: "I welcome the Council of Telecoms Ministers' early endorsement of the Commission's proposal to reduce consumer charges for sending text messages and downloading data via their mobile phones while abroad. This shows that where there is a common will, there is a swift EU way for action in the telecoms sector. Thanks to the diplomatic efforts of the French Presidency, namely of Secretary of State Luc Chatel, Ministers have answered the Commission's call for a speedy response to the SMS and data roaming rip-off very positively. I look forward to discussing with the European Parliament - which is co-deciding on the new roaming rules with the Council - how best to protect European businessmen, tourists, students and other travellers from excessive SMS and data roaming charges. I am confident that with Parliament we will ensure that consumers travelling in the EU will save money when sending texts and surfing the web with a mobile phone as of 1 July 2009. This would send a clear message of consensus that the EU's single market is there to serve European citizens as well as businesses."
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REPORTS AND STUDIES
Digital Literacy Review
As part of its the commitment made in the Ministerial Riga Declaration on eInclusion, the Commission has carried out a review of 470 digital literacy initiatives in Europe. It finds that Member States have invested heavily in digital literacy and much has been achieved with increasing internet use by all sections of the population. However it warns that much remains to be done, particularly for the elderly, and finds evidence of a possible secondary digital divide in terms of quality of use. As part of the Review, the Commission invited a High-Level Expert Group to propose Recommendations based on its findings.
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