ESOA Concerned By EC Focus on Long-Term Broadband

[Satellite TODAY 09-22-10] The European Commission (EC) outlined initiatives to bring high-speed broadband throughout Europe, however, satellite platforms barely were mentioned in the proposals released Sept. 20.
    Aarti Holla-Maini, secretary general of the European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), told Satellite TODAY she was concerned over the EC’s focus on 2020 broadband objectives. “The commission’s 2013 objective of ‘Broadband for All’ can only be met if satellite plays an integral role. Satellite operators are already connecting thousands of users per month to broadband Internet and are also capable of providing 30 megabits per second (Mbps) services if market demand supports it. It is unfortunate that the EC’s Broadband Communication did not recognize that only through satellite coverage can these services be extended to all citizens in Europe — a strength which is, by contrast, well-recognized in the Radio Spectrum Policy Program (RSPP) communication.”
    The Broadband Communication issued by the EC paints places satellite on the periphery, implying that satellite cannot reach the broadband speeds that the EC demands. “Next-generation terrestrial wireless services can offer transfer rates of over 30 Mbps and, therefore, meet the broadband coverage target. They are particularly important in regions with difficult terrain where wired access is impractical. Wireless connections via satellite could also play a role in these regions, but further technological development will be needed if satellite is to contribute to universal coverage at the target speed of 30 Mbps by 2020,” the report said.
    There are three moves that the EC outlined as key components of its broadband policy. The first recommendation regards regulated access to Next-Generation Access networks, with the EC wanting to provide regulatory certainty to telecom operators to ensure an appropriate balance between the need to encourage investment and the need to safeguard competition. Second, the EC recommends the establishment of the RSPP to ensure that spectrum is available for wireless broadband. Finally, the EC wants to put together another plans outlining how best to encourage public and private investment in high and ultra-high speed networks.
    “Fast broadband is digital oxygen, essential for Europe’s prosperity and well-being. These measures will help to ensure that Europeans get the first-class Internet they expect and deserve, so that they can access the content and services they want,” Neelie Kroes, vice president of the EC’s Digital Agenda said in a statement.
    The EC’s Digital Agenda sets targets for basic broadband coverage for all European Union citizens by 2013 and fast broadband coverage at 30 MBps available by 2010, with at least half European households subscribing to broadband access at 100 Mbps.
    Maxime Baudry, a satellite analyst at French research consultancy Idate, told Satellite TODAY that some of the targets outlined by the EC are reasonable. “The target of having 100 percent access to broadband by 2013 seems reachable in most European countries, as broadband coverage is often near 100 percent. In others, wireless broadband and satellite will help meet the objectives. What is going to be more difficult is reaching good FTTx coverage by 2020.”
    Despite the EC announcement, Baudry is optimistic that satellite players can have an impact in Europe’s broadband markets. “Satellite has a very good window of opportunity in rural areas, but satellite manufacturers and operators have to keep innovating. Eutelsat’s Ka-Sat will offer 10 Mbps, which is a quite high and a very good performance but this can not be qualified as ultra broadband (at least 20 Mbps).”

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ESOA Concerned By EC Focus on Long-Term Broadband

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