Actions
Main actions have been taken at EU level with the RSSP programme, at national level with the switch off of analogue television and the auction of the digital dividend last summer. Much more efforts are still needed to increase the speeds and the network capacity.
Telefonica has announced three compromises during 2011 to improve coverage in rural areas using the spectrum: the latest one as part of the digital dividend auction in July 2011, with an ambitious target to targets to reach 90% population coverage <5,000 inhabitants with speed 30 Mb / s by 2020. In June 2011 they had announced another commitment to reach by 2013 with 900 - 1.5 UMTS coverage in smaller towns (Mhab 1000 inhabitants).
The TV operators emphasised that the growing trend of Internet content distribution method in networked televisions opens new opportunities for broadcasters, and call for support to promote synergies between the development of both Broadcasting and Broadband.
A main issue on the discussion which calls for action is to have a regulation that guarantees the network neutrality: how to find a balanced traffic management solution. Some other participant in the audience proposed that broadband universal service should be provided with public funding.
Finally, there were many suggestions proposed by the Internet society, which can be seen in their presentation, relevant to several topics of the Digital Agenda. On the spectrum/broadband topic, they mainly emphasised that a neutral network and high capacity backbone should be the main strategy at country level.
A common remark by several participants was to aim for solutions that can arrive soon, given the global competition and the consumer trends: it took only one day to sell 1 million iPads: the demand can only continue increasing.