Luxembourg

Space can help to bridge the digital divide; this was the clear message of the Luxembourg colloquium 'On the road to Lisbon', dedicated to the knowledge-based economy from the European perspective, held this week in the Grand Duchy.

In Lisbon, in March 2000, the European Council set the objective of ensuring that Europe becomes "the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth". To reach this goal it is particularly urgent to bridge the so-called digital divide.

A workshop organised by ESA focussed on how space solutions can help reduce the inequities in the access to new technologies within an enlarged Europe. A round table reviewed the different sides of this theme and looked at the advantages and constraints of space solutions. "The digital divide will accentuate the social divide if no measures are taken, though new technologies could help us fill this social divide" said François Biltgen, Luxembourg’s minister for culture and research, taking part in the round table.

Obstacles are well identified: the cost is currently too high but can be lowered. "A technological effort must allow acceptable prices, at levels comparable with terrestrial solutions today," explained Didier Faivre, from ESA’s Directorate of European Union and Industry Programmes in ESA, "especially since the technologies needed exist or are already being developed."

François Biltgen, Luxembourg Minister of Culture and Research

Another barrier is regulation. As emphasised by Romain Bausch, CEO of the satellite operator SES Global, "While in the United States there is only one regulatory authority, in Europe there are no rules at the Union level, but national rules at every level, for frequencies as well as for authorisations for two-way broadcasting". But the advantage of a satellite is its coverage over Europe and beyond. Thus there is a gap between satellite potential and the applications.

For access to broadband, used for services such as Internet, in Europe today there are no big distribution channels for satellites, only several small companies, or the existing network supplied by the classic telecom operators, who have a tendency to favour terrestrial solutions.

This also raises the question of public support to implement an efficient system. Romain Bausch thinks that subsidies must be dedicated to content rather than infrastructures, for which he feels that bank guarantees would be more helpful.

"The digital divide is also a civic divide" added Catherine Trautman, Member of European parliament and former French minister of culture and communication. Beyond the problem of access there is the added problem of education in the use of these new technologies: "Europe must allocate resources for equity of access but also in equipment and in education” stated Catherine Trautman.