“Bringing broadband to the Regions via satellite”, the NEREUS Workshop on Satellite Telecommunication, took place on 04 February 2010 in Brussels, at the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the EU.
More than 40 representatives from the industry, business organisations, European Institutions and regional administrations discussed Satellite Communication related issues. Fabio Colasanti highlighted that even if Fiber is faster, Broadband by Satellite is still an attractive solution for citizens in remote areas like Scotland or Cypriot villages.
Aarti Holla-Maini, Secretary General of ESOA (European Satellite Operators Association) gave an illustrative presentation of what communication via satellite is about. With technical data, content information and concrete examples – e.g. how schools in 152 villages in Cyprus could be connected to broadband via satellite – she vividly introduced the topic. She installed a satellite dish on the roof of the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg and invited Mr Colasanti to call a colleague to demonstrate how communication via satellite actually works.
Michael Reiss, representative from Baden-Württemberg Ministry for nutrition and rural areas, explained that especially in areas like the Blackforest low mountain ranges and the Swabian mountains, the objective to achieve full broadband coverage by the end of 2010 could only be realized with the help of satellites.
After the presentations a debate took place, and one of the conclusions was that “Bringing broadband to the regions via satellite” was a cross-cutting issue that concerns various fields of life in the regions, from regional policy to agriculture, urban development, communication etc.. Participants agreed that this was a topic of high regional relevance and, to build on the success of this first workshop, they decided to hold another one in the autumn.
The event was organised by the NEREUS Telecommunication WG which is chaired by Joachim Baldermann, Representative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Baden-Württemberg at the representation of the State Baden Wuerttemberg to the EU. The next meeting of Telecommunication WG will be on the occasion of the NEREUS Symposium on 16 April 2010 in Grenada, Andalusia.
The programme and presentations of the Broadband Workshop can be downloaded from the Telecommunication WG page.
