High Speed Broadband – A Challenge for Europe’s Regions

European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology

Brussels, 19th September 2012

ERNACT

ERNACT

Legal Status

Focus

Set Up

Network Partners

Business Model

Current Status

European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology

European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG)

Region & City Information and Communications Technology (ICT) - broadband, wireless, e-public services

1991

Regions & Cities in Europe

Deliver practical trans-European Digital Agenda projects for European Regions

6 Live ICT trans-European Projects

The ERNACT network is

implementing Digital

Agenda projects with 44 European Regions and

Cities

ERNACT regions harness EU Programmes in a coherent manner to achieve Digital Agenda goals

Project Metrics

Participation in 26 approved transnational projects

• 79 % success rate• € 2 Million average

• 15 as a Lead partner• 8 as a partner• 3 as a consultant/facilitator

ERNACT is currently implementing the following Digital Agenda projects:

Focus

Next Generation Broadband for Rural Areas.

Deploying e-services in the Atlantic Area

Developing Mobile Apps for Tourism in Europe’s Northern periphery

Impact of Social Media on public service delivery in regions

Helping Media sector go Digital

Developing Plans for e-assisted energy efficiency transport in Europe’s regions

Budget

1.5m €

2.0m €

1.5m €

2.4m €

1.8m €

1.4m €

EU Prog

4C

4B

4B

4C

4C

4C

Budget€ 1,393,639DurationApr’2012 – Mar’2015 (36 months)

Funding programme

Budget€ 1,393,639DurationApr’2012 – Mar’2015 (36 months)

Funding programmeHelp rural regions across Europe to better understand and address:

“How to build a high speed broadband (HSB) Network and promote its use at efficient cost in rural areas”.

Aim

ENGAGE

Partner Country

NIVERLAN Joint Authority France

University of Bremen - TZI Germany

ERNACT EEIG Ireland/N. Ireland

Kent County Council UK

Globalgarve-Cooperation and Development Portugal

Harghita County Council Romania

Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology SloveniaUniversity of Ljubljana

Regional Council of South OstrobothniaFinland

Suupohja Economic Development Agency

Self-government of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship Poland

IdenTICConsortium Spain

ENGAGE: Partners

• North West Region implementation plan• Financial support

• Study visits / Thematic workshops• Exchange of staff based on partners interests• Decision makers engagement• Financial support search• Communication activities

ENGAGE: Methodology

ENGAGE: Opportunities

Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland

Region Network

• 5000 km2

• 44 000 inh

• 8,8 inh/km2

•55 villages with 50-500 people per village and seven municipality centres

• Open access FTTx network• Over 2000 households and businesses with FTTH-connection (20 % penetration)• Many customers getting 100 Mbits/s symmetrical connections• Possiblility to choose among 6 ISPs• All the public places such as schools, hospitals, libraries, day care etc. have fibre and they form one big secure intranet•Fast internet connections have made it possible for people as well as businesses to survive in the countryside• Financed with bank loans, regional, national & EU-funds and money coming from the end-customers

Jose Manuel San Emeterio Programme Manager

ERNACT NetworkUnit 150, CoLabLYIT, Port Road

Letterkenny

Co. DonegalIreland

email: jsanemeterio@ernact.eu

tel: +353 74 91 68212

web: www.ernact.eu