Transform Digital Conference 08-05-2014

1. Transform Digital Conference
May 8th 2014
London
Anne-Mari Leppinen
Public private
initiatives to
cover Rural
Europe

2. Regions of South
Ostrobothnia &
Satakunta
Area 5000 km2
Population 30 000
Density 3-10
GDP/person 32 000€

3. Benefits for the region
• Ability for people as well as businesses to survive in the
countryside
• IPTV services have improved the poor TV-quality in some areas
• The FTTH-network has improved the 3G/4G-coverage
• Increased value of houses, growth in GDP, simply better quality of
life etc.
Can people live without proper
internet connections???
This farmer on the left has f.ex. milking
robots which are updated and controlled
from abroad. Without fibre she would have
to think about quitting…
• Deeper cooperation between
municipalities
• Cheaper, faster, more flexible infra
• HUGE SAVINGS!

4. • Ensure that rural is equipped to play a real role in the digital
future of Europe
• Ensure both services and infrastructure from deepest rural to
biggest cities
• Unclear roles and targets, lack of cooperation and respect
between stakeholders
• Minimize the digital gap from cradle to grave
• Adoption of our societal behavior to the digital world
• Understanding of rural elected representatives
• The EC + other institutions must make more effort to understand
the rural context
– this includes DG AGRI/Rural Dev where the overwhelming emphasis is still
food/agriculture
• How citizens and smes will use all the potential of those
infrastructures
• Interoperability => matter of coordination, governance and agreements
Challenges
7

5. ENGAGE POLITICAL MANIFESTO
Voice of Rural Europe in Brussels
Policy initiative from elected representatives of rural areas of Europe to
ensure the needs of rural regions are heard and the ambitions & needs of
millions of citizens taken into account
Target ensure that all the economic & social benefits of next generation
HSB reach every corner of the continent
ENGAGE & POLITICAL MANIFESTO
8
11 partners and 9 European Regions
working together to define the best
economic models for developing Very
High Speed Broadband Infrastructures
in less populated regions

6. ENGAGE SELFIE
9
Show your face & join your voice to ours, today!

7. Thank you!