Recovery and resilience scoreboard.Connectivity.

Abstract

More and better connectivity is key for Europe’s development in an increasingly digital world. Guaranteeing ubiquitous internet access and availability of digital services is crucial for everyday activities - economic, social or cultural. This was amply shown during the COVID-19 crisis when electronic communications networks played a crucial role in enabling remote working and schooling, healthcare, personal communication and entertainment. To unlock the full potential of digital transformation, the European Union needs connectivity infrastructure that is performant, resilient, secure and sustainable. Such infrastructure should be optimised to leverage the latest optical fibre technologies in fixed networks and to connect innovative wireless systems such as 5G, 6G and Wi- Fi. Widespread gigabit connectivity1 is important for intensive use in areas such as health, education, transport, logistics, manufacturing and media, which can play a key role in Europe’s competitiveness and resilience. Very high-capacity networks2 are the enablers for emerging and future digital services such as the adoption of improved video standards, cloud services, applications based on virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence applications and automated driving. More generally, fixed and wireless connectivity contributes to providing accessible services and bridging the digital divide.