Grayling Blog

Europe tries to span the digital divide

Posted on 19.06.2010 by Russell Patten

To what extent can you regulate the internet? How do you set about boosting internet trust whilst protecting personal data? And how can you simultaneously encourage the uptake of broadband whilst ensuring that people have the necessary “e-skills” to make full use of this technology?

The ICT sector is fast-moving, highly innovative, and not particularly risk-averse – in short, it is the ultimate nightmare for regulators. Today’s cutting-edge technology is tomorrow’s antique, as (mostly) young and (always) creative entrepreneurs continually test the ground and explore new avenues for communication.

Last month the European Commission launched its Digital Agenda for the next decade which tries to address these and other issues related to the digital sphere.

But has the 3D-digital horse already bolted from the virtual stable door?

The EU’s Digital Agenda should be praised for addressing both the concerns and the potential of the digital economy. Amongst others it calls for more investment in R&D, greater e-literacy in the wider population, and also puts forward the intriguing hypothesis that ICTs can address broad societal problems such as the ageing population and climate change.

Nor does the Digital Agenda shy away from solid and ambitious objectives, such as:

• Basic broadband for all by 2013;
• A doubling in public investment in ICT R&D to €11 billion; and
• An increase in regular internet use from 60% to 75% of the EU population by 2015, and from 41% to 60% for disadvantaged people.

Regulators have little option but to desperately cling to the coat-tails of the digital economy as it continues its seemingly never-ending evolution – but we in the communications field need to keep up with the game, and even lead from the front when the time is right. Like the digital entrepreneurs, we too need to be innovative, creative, questioning, and willing to take risks where appropriate.

After all, it is what our clients expect from us.

Russell Patten and Robert Francis