The penetration of broadband internet access on fixed-line and mobile networks in Slovakia reached 19.89 percent in the first half of this year. According to the Slovak Telecommunication Office (TÚ), which gave the figure to the European Commission (EC), penetration thus rose 2.65 percentage points during the past six months, the SITA newswire wrote. The penetration of broadband internet in the fixed-line network was 9.57 percent as of June 30. TÚ spokesman Roman Vavro stated that the European Commission did not take into account mobile communication when comparing countries last year. Mobile connections make up over 50 percent of penetration in the Slovak Republic.
The EC's report on progress on the common telecommunication market, released in March 2008, spelled out Slovakia’s position at the tail-end of the European Union (EU) with regard to high-speed internet access, with penetration at 8.8 percent by late 2007. The European Commission (EC), however, did not take mobile internet connections into account. The EU average for high-speed internet penetration is twenty percent. "Slovakia has much to improve still. In high-speed internet, it is the third worst in the EU," said the head of the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, Andrea Elsheková-Matisová. Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden are global leaders in the broadband internet sector. Penetration in these countries exceeded 30 percent by the end of last year. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
