OECD: Broadband networks lead market recovery

A report released this week claimed the global ICT sector was showing signs of recovery, with investments in national broadband network plans forming a central component of government efforts to stimulate growth.

The report, prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), said the global ICT sector is in a stronger position than it was at the end of the dotcom bust.

"Strong points include higher cash to debt ratios in company balance sheets, consolidated and stronger firms, and the greater importance of the Internet economy," it said.

"There are signs of recovery, with the rate of decline bottoming out and turning up in the most recent cyclical data (May-June), with positive month-on-month growth for most countries."

The report also dived into the ICT implications of stimulus packages prepared by governments the world over to revive the flagging economies.

"Many of the stimulus packages recognise the importance of modern fixed and wireless communication infrastructure to support innovative products and services and the need to devote some public resources to improve or accelerate deployment," it said.

The report showed that Australia's investment in a national broadband network dwarfed other national 'networked recovery' efforts, some six-times larger than the investment in broadband proposed by its nearest peer, the US (see table below).

OECD: "Networked recovery": Investing in ICT infrastructure (source: OECD)

Country	Planned investment	Goals	Penetration targets	Speed targets
Australia	AUS 43 billion (USD 34.4 billion) (public-private)	Combination of fibre to the premises (FTTP) and next generation wireless and satellite technology	90% for FTTP and 10% for wireless/satellite	100 Mbit/s for fibre
Austria	EUR 25 million (government) - EUR 100 million (public-private)	Extending high speed broadband and usage of broadband	n.a.	over 25 Mbit/s
Canada	CAD 225 million (USD 211 million)	Extending broadband coverage to un-served rural and remote communities	as many households as possible by 2012	n.a.
Finland	EUR 66 million (USD 96 million) of EUR 200 million (public-private)	Extending high-speed broadband	all permanent residences, business, public administration establishments	1 Mbit/s by end of 2010 100 Mbit/s by end of 2015
France	n.a. EUR 750 million for three years (government share n.a.)	Development of broadband network in small or medium-sized cities, extending (fixed / mobile) broadband. Internet on TGV Est lines (EUR 15 million), and development of networks for education and research. Funds provided by a French public bank and the private sector to develop next-generation networks in less connected areas	access to broadband by 2010 and mobile broadband by 2012 for everyone n.a.	n.a. n.a.
EU	EUR 1 billion (USD 1.46 billion)	Extending and upgrading high-speed Internet (focus on rural communities)	100% coverage of high speed Internet by 2010	n.a.
Germany	an estimated EUR 150 million (USD 219 million)	Accelerating the spread of broadband networks. By 2010 all unserved areas connected. Nationwide capable broadband access by no later than the end of 2010	by 2014, ¾ of households should have access to high-speed Internet (all by 2018)	target is 50 Mbit/s
Japan	Yen 185 billion (USD1.9 billion)	Eliminating the digital divide, promoting the development of wireless broadband and fostering digital terrestrial broadcasting	broadband: 100% by 2010 ultra-high speed: 90% by 2010	n.a.
Luxem -bourg	EUR 195 million (USD 285 million)	Accelerating the build-out of Luxconnect information highway, including through boosting public tele- communications works	n.a.	n.a.
Portugal	EUR 50 million - fiscal incentives1 (USD 73 million)	Subsidised investments in new generation broadband networks	optic fibre that will allow 1,5 million users to connect	n.a.
Spain	n.a.	Measures for overseeing the installation of new generation fibre and regulating broadband	n.a.	up to 30 Mbit/s, "at cost-oriented prices"
United Kingdom	GBP 200 million (USD 328 million) GBP 150-175 million a year raised by levy on fixed copper lines	Universal service commitment for broadband Next Generation Final Third project which is aimed at developing next generation networks	virtually every community 90% coverage by 2017	2 Mbit/s per second by 2012
United States	USD 7.2 billion (EUR 4.9 billion)	To foster broadband service to unserved / underserved areas, promote broadband in schools, libraries, health-care providers, and other entities.	n.a.	no set minimum data speeds