The European Commission (EC) has presented a Communication on future networks and the Internet, reviewing the ongoing activities and proposing a raft of measures with a view to the Internet of the future (Web 3.0), which has the objective of being dynamic, accessible transparent and safe for everyone. The EC also presented the ''Broadband Performance Index'' with the aim of monitoring the developments of high speed Internet in terms of speed, coverage, affordability, innovation, quality services and socio-economic context.
In this communication, the EC presents some of the key points of its strategy for the Internet of the future, including:
- the presentation, in early 2009, of a Recommendation on access to next generation networks;
- the launch of the debate, in the last quarter of 2008, on the role of the universal service of electronic communications in the provision of broadband to all;
- the application of competition rules to the Internet and the adoption of a White Paper on ICT standardisation in early 2009;
- the adoption of a Recommendation on the application of data protection rules with respect to RFID systems (Radio-Frequency IDentification), and
- the publication of a Communication on the external dimension of policies for the information society, at the end of 2008.
In parallel, the EC launched a public consultation on the Internet of Things, which should lead to a Communication in the 2nd quarter of 2006, focusing, in particular, on the architecture, control of critical infrastructure, emerging application, security, privacy and data protection, spectrum management and regulation of the ''Internet of things'', which involves the interaction of all types of devices and objects (vehicles, mobile phones, computers, sensors, etc ...) with people via the Internet.
The public consultation will remain open until 28 November 2008, while contributions can be submitted via the following address: infso-iot-europe@ec.europa.eumailto:infso-iot-europe@ec.europa.eu.
Consultation on the early challenges regarding the ''Internet of Things''http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=IOTconsultation
Communication on future networks and the internethttp://ec.europa.eu/information_society/eeurope/i2010/docs/future_internet/act_future_networks_internet_en.pdf
Commission consults on how to put Europe into the lead of the transition to Web 3.0http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1422&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en (European Union press release)
Further information:
i2010 initiativehttp://ec.europa.eu/information_society/eeurope/i2010/index_en.htm (European Commission website)