Satellite-based Internet access has reached the last 0.6 percent of homes that copper wires and mobile networks didn't, the European Commission announces. October 17, 2013 11:28 AM PDT Eutelsat's KA-SAT is one way European homes and businesses can get Net access. (Credit: Eutelsat) Every citizen in the European Union now has broadband Internet access at home, a goal the European Commission said it reached before its year-end deadline. Pushing the needle all the way to 100 percent is satellite-based Internet access, which reached the 0.6 percent of homes that wired connections and mobile networks couldn't reach, the EC announced Thursday. DSL, cable TV, and fiber-optic lines reach 96.1 percent, and mobile networks reach 99.4 percent. Related stories Kroes: Unify European telecom market for big economic boost Kroes: Unify the mobile market or Europe will fall farther behind Mobile carriers snap back at European roaming reform EC leader calls for unified European mobile networks EU plans $6.4 billion effort to boost chip manufacturing "For those in the most isolated areas, satellite is a good option to stay connected, and it's likely to remain so," said Neelie Kroes, the European Commission vice president in charge of the region's digital agenda, in a statement. Basic satellite services can be found for about $13 a month, with faster 20Mbps service costing about $33 a month. A total of 148 satellites provide the actual service, the EC said. The EC is also working on speeding up broadband. It has two goals: download rates of at least 30Mbps for all citizens by 2020, and download rates of at least 100Mbps at half of European homes.
Satellite-based Internet access has reached the last 0.6 percent of homes that copper wires and mobile networks didn't, the European Commission announces.
Eutelsat's KA-SAT is one way European homes and businesses can get Net access.
(Credit: Eutelsat)
Every citizen in the European Union now has broadband Internet access at home, a goal the European Commission said it reached before its year-end deadline.
Pushing the needle all the way to 100 percent is satellite-based Internet access, which reached the 0.6 percent of homes that wired connections and mobile networks couldn't reach, the EC announced Thursday. DSL, cable TV, and fiber-optic lines reach 96.1 percent, and mobile networks reach 99.4 percent.
Related stories
- Kroes: Unify European telecom market for big economic boost
- Kroes: Unify the mobile market or Europe will fall farther behind
- Mobile carriers snap back at European roaming reform
- EC leader calls for unified European mobile networks
- EU plans $6.4 billion effort to boost chip manufacturing
"For those in the most isolated areas, satellite is a good option to stay connected, and it's likely to remain so," said Neelie Kroes, the European Commission vice president in charge of the region's digital agenda, in a statement.
Basic satellite services can be found for about $13 a month, with faster 20Mbps service costing about $33 a month. A total of 148 satellites provide the actual service, the EC said.
The EC is also working on speeding up broadband. It has two goals: download rates of at least 30Mbps for all citizens by 2020, and download rates of at least 100Mbps at half of European homes.
