How to Achieve the Goal of Broadband for All

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the paper aims to explain national experiences in penetration of broadband, through an analysis of drivers and barriers. Second, the paper will on this background assess the role of government intervention in order to achieve universal access to broadband services. The paper focuses on identification and analysis of drivers and barriers towards the development of broadband for all. The purpose is to provide input for an assessment of various policy measures aiming at stimulation of the growth in penetration of broadband services. The analysis builds on experiences with broadband development in four countries, which varies from market leaders (Canada, Denmark and South Korea) to average penetration regarding broadband services (Germany). The paper is based on ongoing work in WP3 of the BREAD project (Broadband in Europe for all: a multi disciplinary approach), which collects information on ongoing regional and national initiatives in Europe and around the world.