Study on broadband and infrastructure mapping : final report

The broad background for the present study is the Digital Agenda Europe, the Broadband state aid guidelines and the proposal of the European Commission on measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks. In order to support the achievement of the broadband-related objectives of the Digital Agenda Europe, reliable and valid information on existing infrastructure, broadband services already offered, etc. is fundamental. Indeed, it is obvious that efficient and pertinent planning and decision-making processes need to be based on appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative information. Likewise, such information might be able to inform citizens and authorities on the current broadband situation. Against this backdrop, the overarching objective of the present study is to develop a coherent and comprehensive broadband mapping methodology that is applicable in all EU Member States and can adapt to various mapping contexts such as service mapping or investment mapping. The study therefore aims to enable Member States to make educated choices by providing them with guidance about how to set up a sophisticated, accurate and useful broadband mapping system. In a nutshell, broadband mapping can be defined as the gathering and presentation of data related to the deployment of broadband. Overall, we have defined four types of broadband mapping: (1) infrastructure mapping; (2) service mapping; (3) demand mapping; (4) investment and funding mapping