European Commission frustrated with slow satellite broadband deployments

The European Commission (EC) has expressed frustration at the slow rollout of satellite broadband services across the European Union (EU) by member states, and warned it could use enforcement measures to accelerate the process.

In 2009, the EC gave Inmarsat Ventures and Solaris Mobile contracts to work with member states on deploying satellite broadband to ensure there would be mobile broadband coverage across the entire EU.

However, a lack of coordination on the proposals around the deployment of satellite services at a pan-European level has seen the two-year deadline set by the EC for the work pass with little progress made.

The vice president for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, first called on member states to work together to put the necessary legislation in place to help with the rollouts in February, and has now threatened enforcement action to ensure the work happens.

"We gave the two selected operators two years to deploy their systems. The time has now come for effective enforcement," she said.

"Either operators deliver on their promises, or the spectrum which they have available, which is a scarce resource, should be used in other ways."

The satellite industry has itself been frustrated by the EC, though, with the European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA) urging the organisation to relax rules around the use of public funding for satellite broadband deployments.

Proponents argue that satellite broadband is key to ensuring fast internet services are available to the entire population of the EU, including those living in the remotest of regions, with firms promising the ability to deliver speeds of up to 10Mbit/s.