Page 103 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

EU Publishes Handbook to Help New Rural Broadband Networks

The European Commission (EC) has published a “dedicated
handbook” for rural policy makers and broadband project
managers who plan to roll-out new ISP networks into remote areas,
which uses examples from the UK (e.g. B4RN etc.) and other EU
countries to show how the job can be done both “effectively and
efficiently.” The broadband handbook (PDF) itself is over 22MB
(MegaBytes) in size and 46 pages long. The overview it provides
is a fairly general one, although it should offer a useful starting off
point for anybody who might be considering their own network.
In fact it’s definitely one of the more readable examples of such a
guide. The first part of the handbook makes the case for rural and
remote area broadband investment and outlines the technological
solutions, the European broadband targets and progress, and
sources of EU funding and support for broadband (it should be
mentioned that funding for related projects has also come from
communities, the private sector and other public funding sources
etc.). Finally, the second part presents examples of good practices
that rural and remote communities have used to solve the issue
of broadband connectivity. It outlines the solutions implemented,
taking into account social, territorial and economic aspects. It
also addresses lessons learned from unsuccessful cases and
defines a simple framework covering the key issues. The European
Commission (EC) has published a “dedicated handbook” for rural
policy makers and broadband project managers who plan to roll-
out new ISP networks into remote areas, which uses examples
from the UK (e.g. B4RN etc.) and other EU countries to show
how the job can be done both “effectively and efficiently.” The
broadband handbook (PDF) itself is over 22MB (MegaBytes) in
size and 46 pages long. The overview it provides is a fairly general
one, although it should offer a useful starting off point for anybody
who might be considering their own network. In fact it’s definitely
one of the more readable examples of such a guide. The first
part of the handbook makes the case for rural and remote area second part presents examples of good practices that rural and
broadband investment and outlines the technological solutions, remote communities have used to solve the issue of broadband
the European broadband targets and progress, and sources of EU connectivity. It outlines the solutions implemented, taking into
funding and support for broadband (it should be mentioned that account social, territorial and economic aspects. It also addresses
funding for related projects has also come from communities, the lessons learned from unsuccessful cases and defines a simple
private sector and other public funding sources etc.). Finally, the framework covering the key issues.

103 MAY 2020