Drives and Barriers for Development of Broadband Access - CE Perspective

Zbigniew Hulicki (AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland)

Abstract: Development of e-services in the CE (Central European) countries d epends on a number of factors which can result in overcoming or extending digital divide between the "new" and "old" EU member states. These factors comprise both drives of and barriers to development of broadband access and growth of e-services. This paper provides insight into the environment for the CE mass-market broadband adoption, and examines each of the factors that condition this adoption: novel approaches to increase ICT penetration; clear policy and legal regulations; segmented service offerings for specific user needs in such markets ; and innovative pricing schemes and service packages.

Keywords: ICT, Web-based multimedia services, broadband access, digital divide, e-services

Categories: C.2.4, C.2.5, H.3.5, H.4, H.4.3, J.4, K.4, K.4.2