The multifold and integrated development of broadband infrastructures, content and demand on behalf of citizens and enterprises forms a key priority of the Special Secretariat for the Information Society, since broadband access is a prerequisite for the implementation of the Digital Strategy in our country during the 2006-2013 time period.

Integrated activities are implemented for the development of broadband infrastructures, content, and services and for the support of demand; the relevant cost amounts to € 450 million.

The positive answer on behalf of the General Directorate of Regional Development of the European Commission, on the content and the implementation terms of the large project of development of local access broadband infrastructures throughout the Region, of a cost of € 210 million, granted the approval for the immediate implementation of the broadband access promotion plan.

The objective is that Internet penetration gets increased from 0.1% among the population in 2004 and 1.5% in 2005 to at least 7% until 2008 and the population coverage reaches 90% from 65% in 2005.

The integrated actions, activities and projects for the development of broadband infrastructures, content and services as well as the increase of broadband demand whose total budget amounts to over € 450 million, are deemed necessary so as the country takes on again.

The dynamic utilization of new technologies via broadband access as a key tool of reforms through the entire range of economy and society will improve our technological readiness and prepare the ground for the future.