Search is on for digital revolution

NEW digital targets are being set after telecoms, audiovisual, IT and online industry bosses were asked by digital economy minister Eric Besson to point the way ahead for their industry.

His 2020 Digital Plan – a set of targets for making the most of new technologies such as broadband internet and mobile phones – comes as a scheme to invest €2 billion of President Sarkozy’s “Big Loan” in installing superfast fibre-optic broadband in rural areas was announced.

Half of the money will go to local councils and half to internet service providers in a bid to provide access to the technology for all by 2025.

The government says it has met 80% of the targets in the 2012 Digital Plan by making standard broadband accessible to all, switching France to digital TV, and introducing a fourth mobile operator (Free Mobile, by the start of 2012).

Now it is asking industry leaders to say what services should be accessible over broadband by 2020 or what new uses people will be making of mobile phones.