EU broadband speeds move towards 2020 target

The average broadband speed in Europe has improved significantly in just one year, according to official statistics.

Figures from the European Commission (EC) reveal that from July 2009 to July 2010, the percentage of lines running broadband of 10Mbps and over rose by 14 per cent to 29 per cent.

The EC’s target is to provide broadband at 30Mbps for all of Europe by 2020. It also wants to have begun providing lines delivering 100Mbps to 220 million households by that time. However, Neelie Kroes, the commissioner for the digital agenda, acknowledged that significant infrastructure work would be necessary as currently the majority of lines are not capable of delivering high speed broadband.

"Take up and available speeds are improving, but we need to do more to reach our very fast broadband targets," she said.

Read more about EU subscription and high speed broadband here.

26/11/10