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Summary

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED.

The European Commission’s Digital Agenda Action Plan aims to to give every European citizen access to basic broadband by 2013, enabling Europe to boost job creation, promote economic prosperity and improve the daily lives of citizens and businesses.

'Every European Digital': The Challenge of Bridging the Broadband Gap will look at the path from now to 2013, take stock of the obstacles standing in the way of achieving 100% coverage, explore the role that new broadband infrastructure can play and consider how broadband for all can be funded.

Speakers include

Neelie Kroes

European Commissioner for Digital Agenda

European Commission

Johannes Hahn

European Commissioner for Regional Policy

European Commission

William E. Kennard

US Ambassador to the EU

US Mission to the EU

Brendan Nelson

Australian Ambassador to Belgium

Luxembourg and the EU

Edit Herczog MEP

Member

European Parliament

Danuta Hübner

MEP, Chair

REGI Committee, European Parliament

Harald Gruber

Head of ICT and Economy Division, Projects Directorate

European Investment Bank

Bridget Cosgrave

Director General

Digital Europe

Manuel Kohnstamm

President

Cable Europe

Michel de Rosen

Member of the Board

ESOA & CEO, Eutelsat

More information

The ambitious Digital Agenda for Europe aims to bring broadband Internet to all, even to people living in isolated areas, by 2013. What is the significance of the targets, where are we now, and how important is it that they are met? What concrete steps now need to be taken, and how can we come closer to achieving this objective? Wireless broadband will be crucial to the provision of fast Internet for all, and hopes are high for the upcoming European Radio Spectrum Policy Programme. What role can terrestrial and satellite broadband play to maximize the benefits for consumers and industry?

Broadband also plays a crucial role in regional development, for businesses, the public sector and communities. What are the socio-economic benefits, and how can these be maximised to achieve the most significant economic and social impact, growth and productivity? 150 million Europeans – some 30% - have never used the Internet and between 10 and 20 million have either no Internet access at all or poor access. How can the challenges of e-Inclusion best be met?

Perhaps the biggest challenge of all is enabling broadband in rural and isolated communities, with the costs of building new infrastructures being high, and population densities being low. What alternatives are available, how quickly can they be deployed, which solutions make best use of available funds? How can regional and other funding programmes best leverage more private investment, and how can broadband be made more affordable for the rural poor?

This high-level conference is free to attend, but with extremely high demand, we advise you to register now to secure your place!

The full event programme will be available very shortly. For further information in the meantime, or to find out how you can become involved, please contact Dan Craft on +44 (0)2920 783 021 / dan.craft@forum-europe.com.