Wolfgang Briglauer

The regulation and competition within the electronic communications market has changed fundamentally over the last 25 years. Initially, the focus was on opening up previously monopolistic telecommunications markets. The electronic communications markets, which were originally clearly demarcated, have since given way to a highly dynamic and complex ICT ecosystem consisting of diverse market participants, technologies, infrastructures, digital services, platforms, and political objectives.

Ubiquitous high-speed fiber-based and mobile broadband availability is a key economic policy goal in the European Union and other developed countries. Policymakers seek to boost economic growth, productivity, and employment, especially in remote areas, through ambitious broadband targets and substantial public funding. This paper reviews the existing literature on high-speed broadband Internet and its socioeconomic impact on key outcome variables.