Single European Information Space

The first objective of i2010 is to establish a Single European Information Space offering affordable and secure high-bandwidth communications, rich and diverse content and digital services. Action in this area combines regulatory and other instruments at the European Commission’s disposal to create a modern, market-oriented regulatory framework for the digital economy.

The creation of the Single European Information Space means addressing the challenges posed by digital convergence. This convergence is to telecommunications what globalisation is to trade – an issue that will affect everything governments do. For an outline of the various technological, market and policy challenges posed by this process, see a working paper on “The Challenges of Convergence” prepared with the i2010 High Level Group in 2006. The paper set the ground for a discussion on the future policy orientations in this area that was followed up by mid-term review of the i2010 strategy and still continues.

Actions

In this area the Commission’s actions for 2008-2009 are to:

• Develop a broadband performance index and invite Member States to set national targets for high-speed internet usage to reach a 30% penetration rate among the EU population by 2010;
• Help prepare the information society for the future internet economy by issuing a Communication on the future of networks and internet;
• Facilitate the transition to new networks by issuing a Recommendation on Next Generation Access;
• Promote the Internet of Things through a Recommendation on RFID, focusing on privacy and security issues;
• Propose measures to ensure a high level of resilience of critical communication networks and information infrastructure and information infrastructure (like the internet) and to guarantee continuity of services;
• Propose a set of actions to facilitate the transition to IPv6;
• Support the adoption of the regulatory package for e-Communications and in particular the creation of the European Electronic Communications Market Authority (EECMA);
• Make spectrum management more efficient by facilitating the harmonisation and trading of the pan-European part of frequencies;
• Report on the universal service obligations;
• Publish a guide that explains users’ rights and obligations in the digital environment;
• Launch the next phase in the review of the consumer acquis — Framework Directive on Consumer Contractual Rights;
• Launch Safer Internet 2009-2013 for the protection of minors and the fight against illegal content;
• Respond to the challenges to privacy and trust stemming from new converging services in the future ubiquitous information society;
• Launch the Content Online Platform;
• Address issues concerning the interoperability and transparency of digital rights management systems (DRMs) for consumers in the Recommendation on Content Online.

Actions implemented so far are reviewed in the i2010 Annual Reports, where you can also find a list of i2010 actions implemented since the launch of the initiative (up to March 2008).

Source: European Commission