High speed broadband networks at the centre of ETNO meetings with US authorities and industry

Washington DC – A delegation of leading European telecoms operators, chaired by Michael Bartholomew, ETNO Director, is meeting with US senior officials and industry representatives this week, to discuss high speed broadband deployment.

With one million subscribers to fibre-based broadband networks, Europe is currently lagging behind its main world economic partners, in particular the US, in terms of high speed broadband access networks roll out.
“The United States have experienced an unprecedented growth of fibre roll out over the past few years, reaching now up to 2.5 million subscribers”, says Michael Bartholomew, ETNO Director.

“As the European Parliament and the member states currently debate the future EU telecoms rules, it
is key to identify the most appropriate conditions to encourage all players to invest and to meet the
challenges the sector is facing”, added Bartholomew.
The ETNO Delegation will meet among others with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Commissioner Adelstein; the Director of the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA)and members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. ETNO members will also have discussions with US Ambassador David Gross, Coordinator for International Communications and
Information Policy. Meetings with industry representatives include AT&T, Verizon and the US
Telecom Association.

Besides the EU review of the telecoms rules, they will also discuss issues such as rural broadband deployment, spectrum allocation, internet governance and the future of ICANN.

For more information, please consult www.etno.be or contact Thierry Dieu, ETNO Communications Manager
(dieu@etno.be or 32 2 227 10 82)

* ETNO’s 41 member companies from 34 European countries represent a significant part of total ICT activity in Europe. They account for an aggregate annual turnover of more than 250 billion Euros and employ over one million people across Europe. ETNO companies are the main drivers of broadband and are committed to its continual growth in Europe.