The move to broadband fundamentally changes the Internet experience - phenomena as diverse as 'user generated' content sites and advanced 'digital ecosystem' technologies (see the eBusiness theme) would probably not have appeared without widespread, high-speed, always-on connections. Europe's citizens, patients and students, moreover, will only reap the rewards of the Information Society once broadband access is commonplace (see the e-government, health and education & training themes).
Yet progress is uneven - broadband has yet to reach some of the EU’s less-developed areas. In 2005, broadband was available to only about 60% of businesses and households in the remote and rural areas of the EU15, compared to over 90% in the urban areas. In the new Member States, the gap is even greater.Where it is available, moreover, broadband speeds are often lower in rural areas, reducing the performance of the available services. While widespread broadband could help bridge gaps in today's society, this inequality could actually make them worse.Action is needed at regional, national and European level to close this digital divide and ensure everyone can access the Information Society, regardless of where they are. The EU is helping Member States learn from each others' experiences and coordinate their activities, as well as combining all of its own policy instruments towards this goal.
