According to the European Commission there are over 250m Europeans using the internet, and eighty per cent of them have a broadband connection. These findings come from an EC report on the success, so far, of its i2010 digital growth strategy.

i2010 is a strategy started by the EC to drive through its ICT policies and activities. So far, the EC says, it has been a success, having seen increased business use of the internet, more use in education, increased adoption in the healthcare industry, and improvements in the local regulatory and technical environment.

More work is required, however, according to Viviane Reding, the EU commissioner for Information Society and Media, "Some parts of the EU are still lagging behind and are not fully connected. All EU countries must therefore work harder to close the gaps, to enhance cross-border communication services as well as services that also reach rural and remote regions" she said.