BEREC Report on COVID-19 crisis

The BEREC’s report on COVID-19 highlights that, overall, telecoms operators this time have been able to adapt to increased data traffic over networks and capacity needs to address it. However, it is to be acknowledged that with many geographical areas in Europe, either insufficiently connected, or sometimes deprived from any connectivity, the digital divide has effectively isolated many people.

Satellite technology provides full geographical coverage and, indeed, has contributed to keep people well informed thanks to the presence of digital TV even in the most remote areas as well as connected. This general inclusiveness needs to be upgraded to all online communication forms.