Europe’s Internet Troubles

Internet access is one of the main drivers for economic and social development. No wonder that the wide availability of broadband access, as one of the main indicators of technology advancement of the economy, is shaping the agenda of governments. Everyone demands broadband access. However, Europe is lagging behind other developed countries and is barely above OECD average. And the proposed liberalization could actually make matters worse by failing to completely privatize providers—turning over both ownership and control to free enterprise—at all levels. Instead the effects of price control could kick in and make it impossible for private enterprise to meet the terms that regulatory agencies are demanding. The result will be a further slipping. FULL ARTICLE