Broadband Internet a Legal Right

[Vampyr]

http://apcmag.com/finland-declares-1...egal-right.htm


We can't even make up our minds about health care.

The Finnish government has decreed that all citizens will be entitled to at least a 1Mbps broadband connection by July next year, with a 100Mbps service mandatory by 2015.

There’s been plenty of talk in Australia and around the world over the argument for Internet as an essential service with a regulated minimum standard of service.

Finland decided to walk the talk this week, with the announcement that as of July next year all Finnish citizens will be entitled to at least 1Mbps broadband connection.

The tiny European nation – home to 5.3 million people, Nokia and an excellent mulled wine called Glögg – is believed to be first country in the world to pass laws making broadband access a legal right.

The country’s Ministry of Transport and Communications says that some exceptions will be permitted, for example in cases where connections are made over a 3G mobile phone network rather than a landline.

But in case you think 1Mbps is a bit on the slow side, just wait until 2015. That’s then Finland’s national broadband network comes online, with the guarantee of 100Mbps for every home and office within within 2km of a high-speed hub (except for around 2,000 dwellings in the furthest corners of the country).

And while 100Mbps will be the minimum service standard, it’s predicted that homes in the capital of Helsinki will enjoy connections around 1Gbps. Yes, you read that right - we’re talking about Gigabit broadband.

The national government will cover up to a third of the projected €200 million cost of the roll-out through a action of unused or under-utilised slices of the radio spectrum. Local municipal regions and telecom operators will pick up the rest of the tab.