| NOTAS: | Study prepared for the European Commission DG Communications Networks, Content & Technology by Tech4i2 Limited, Time.lex BV CVBA, Acreo and Genesis Media GmbH
"The report presents factual input for the fourth periodic review of the scope of universal service. In particular the study investigated the availability and affordability of broadband. The review considered social, economic and technological developments, taking into account, inter alia, mobility and data rates in the light of the prevailing technologies used by the majority of subscribers. The study developed a methodology focussing on four baskets of online services. The primary basket was comprised of online services, which provide social and digital inclusion, used by the majority of consumers. A model was developed to estimate the connectivity levels and investment needed to deliver each of the four baskets in 2015, forecasts to 2020 were also undertaken. The study estimated that the cost of delivering connectivity to EU households at the level required to access the primary basket (9.6 Mbps in 2020) would be €13.7 billion. The cost of social tariffs, if broadband were included as a universal service at similar level to social telephony tariffs, was estimated to be approximately €147 million annually." |
