Broadband Universal Service and Access: Trends and models

This paper addresses the problem of broadband development in Europe and new roles of Universal Service and Universal Access. Review of European Universal Service Obligation and criteria for inclusion of broadband in scope of Universal Service are presented. Based on the EU commission approach, we discussed models for broadband deployment and their decomposition. The aim of these models is to identify the main access gaps and the scope of services to be considered. The proposed model gives possible intervention methods. Financial scheme based on public private partnership is emphasized. The paper proposes that the broadband Universal Service and Universal Access policy should be a part of national broadband plans and agendas.