EC calls for policies to exploit digital economy

A third of Europeans have never used the internet, according to a report by the European Commission. The five year pan-European study also revealed that one in four people in Europe have never used a computer.

However, the study found 56% of Europeans had become active internet users by 2008, an increase of 33% from 2004. Over 80% of European internet users now have a high-speed internet connection, compared to just one third in 2004. This makes Europe the world leader in broadband internet, the EC said.

However, the Commission is calling for new policies to facilitate online business and has raised concerns that Europe is failing to turn the early lead it has achieved in users, to tangible business gains, due to prohibitive rules.