Digital economy can lift Europe out of crisis, says Commission report

The European Commission's Digital Competitiveness report published on the 4 August 2009 shows that Europe's digital sector has made strong progress since 2005: 56% of Europeans now regularly use the internet, 80% of them via a high-speed connection (compared to only one third in 2004), making Europe the world leader in broadband internet. Europe is the world's first truly mobile continent with more mobile subscribers than citizens (a take up rate of 119%).

Europe can advance even further as a generation of "digitally savvy" young Europeans becomes a strong market driver for growth and innovation. Building on the potential of the digital economy is essential for Europe's sustainable recovery from the economic crisis. Today the Commission has asked the public what future strategy the EU should adopt to make the digital economy run at full speed.

• Primary Source

Deutsche Welle, 4.8.09: The Internet takes over Europe http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4541932,00.html

EurActiv, 19.8.09: Europeans unwilling to pay for online content http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/europeans-unwilling-pay-online-c-news-222259

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