Public service and enterprises as well as schools and family doctors: the Internet has become part of the daily lives of Europeans, and over one half of US citizens uses the Web regularly. According to the data made known by the Commission today, "80% of users have broadband connections, and 60% of public services in the European Union are entirely available on the Internet". "Thanks to the quick spreading of broadband, two thirds of schools and one half of physicians use quick connections". The figures provided by the Executive are surprising and would require further confirmations. Commissioner Viviane Reding, in charge of the information company, made them known through a report on the 2010 initiative, which is a community digital strategy for growth and employment. "The strategy, agreed upon in 2005, encouraged the assumption of a strong commitment in communication and information technologies, both on a national and European Union level", she said. "This trend encourages the strengthening of European competition on the international level, as well as the modernization of daily lives of Europeans". (To be continued)
