Digital Agenda for Europe

Bileoga Eolais AE 01-06-2017

Since 1995, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have driven productivity gains and growth in the EU[1]. The concept of ICTs covers a broad spectrum of technologies, ranging from information technology (IT) through telecommunications, broadcast media, and all types of audio and video processing and transmission to network-based control and monitoring functions. Over the past three decades, technological ‘convergence’ has been blurring the boundaries between telecommunications, broadcasting and IT. Smartphones, tablets and connected TV are the clearest examples of this phenomenon. Although linear broadcasting continues to be the principal medium of information distribution and entertainment in Europe, more and more audiovisual content is available on demand, while exponential growth in 4G internet connectivity - soon to step up to 5G standard - and the ‘internet of things’ (IoT), involving connected cars, wearable devices and sensors, gives the internet an increasingly ubiquitous dimension.