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The Network Society - University of Massachusetts Amherst

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<strong>The</strong> first ‘i’ is for information space<br />

Policies <strong>of</strong> Transition to the <strong>Network</strong> <strong>Society</strong> in Europe 379<br />

<strong>The</strong> aim is the creation <strong>of</strong> open and stable markets for electronic<br />

communications services and the emerging digital services economy.<br />

<strong>The</strong> next five years will see continuing rollout <strong>of</strong> broadband. And convergence<br />

between the currently separate domains <strong>of</strong> internet, telephone<br />

and television will come to market-place. Broadband coverage<br />

in the EU15 is already at 80% <strong>of</strong> population. But so far we have 8 subscriptions<br />

per 100 citizens. It means that perhaps every fourth household<br />

is connected.<br />

<strong>The</strong> recent Commission report shows clearly that those countries<br />

in Europe that have the most competition are also the areas that lead<br />

in broadband take-up. <strong>The</strong>re are new opportunities from the rollout<br />

<strong>of</strong> third generation mobile phones, which is now finally taking <strong>of</strong>f,<br />

other wireless technologies such as RLAN (radio-based local area networks)<br />

and satellite.<br />

<strong>The</strong> use <strong>of</strong> the Internet to provide voice telephony (VOIP) and television<br />

will revolutionise the way in which we communicate, do business<br />

and are entertained and there is much to be gained from<br />

accelerating this transition.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Commissioner also has as a target to create an internal market<br />

in information goods and services, such as content, games, interactive<br />

s<strong>of</strong>tware and value added services. It is essential to create the conditions<br />

to facilitate the production and distribution <strong>of</strong> online European<br />

content, preserving and sharing Europe’s different cultural identities,<br />

strengthening the single market and the economic strength <strong>of</strong> this<br />

important sector.<br />

<strong>The</strong> second ‘i’ is for innovation and investment in ICT<br />

Digital convergence will transform the electronics industry, e-communications<br />

and digital content and services over the coming years.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Commissioner has emphasized here three issues: First, the need<br />

<strong>of</strong> private-public partnerships to keep Europe in the vanguard <strong>of</strong><br />

developments. <strong>The</strong> aim is to create more certain investment environments<br />

and a faster, more efficient rollout <strong>of</strong> world-leading services for<br />

citizens. Second, there is the need to strengthen the position <strong>of</strong><br />

Europe in research. Europe has research leadership in some areas, but it

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