Jean-Jacques Dordain, the director general of the European Space Agency (ESA), believes that space technologies can help reduce the digital divide in Europe, but that it is up to others to decide how best these solutions are implemented.

Dordain told Satellite Today, "I think the role of ESA is to ensure that space technology will be available to reduce this digital divide. We are not in charge of formulating policies to bridge this digital divide. We are in charge of developing space technologies and systems. The policy must be defined by the European Commission. We are developing broadband satellite technologies. We have shown that space systems can provide competitive solutions for broadband, especially for rural communities and in European countries where there is little terrestrial infrastructure.”

An exclusive interview with Dordain can be found in the April 2nd issue of Satellite News. For more information about subscribing to Access Intelligence’s satellite newsletters, visit the Web site at https://www.satellitetoday.com