The European Commission has adopted Guidelines that will help Member States to accelerate and extend broadband deployment, allowing public support to foster investment in this strategic sector without creating undue distortions of competition.
Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: “ The Guidelines will facilitate the widespread roll out of high speed and very high speed broadband networks, enhancing European competitiveness and helping to build a knowledge-based society in Europe."
The guidelines distinguish between “white areas” (rural and underserved area) where support for broadband network deployment is in line with existing Community policies and “black areas” where at least two broadband networks are present and where State Aid in not required. Typically, there are also “grey areas” where there is a need for a more detailed assessment.
Last month the EC gave the green light for plans by the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) to construct an open, carrier-neutral, fibre-optic network to wire up 14 Welsh business parks in North Wales.
NetStrategics can help planners work through the detailed conditions in the Guidelines – contact us on huw.williams@netstrategics.co.uk
