Hannes Ametsreiter: Broadband Internet and ICT Pave the Way out of the Crisis in Europe
- Forum Alpbach: Economic symposium about the management of the economic crisis
- Panel discussion with Former EU Commission President and Former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, Austrian Federal Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner and other opinion leaders
- Ametsreiter: ICT and broadband infrastructure make a significant contribution to economic growth
- Ametsreiter: A strong commitment to change on the part of both corporations and public administration is required
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The Telekom Austria Group is participating in the European Forum Alpbach 2010 “Construction and reality”, which is currently underway and focuses on debating the most burning current issues in healthcare, technology, economics, international politics, space planning and financial markets. Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO Telekom Austria Group, took part in the opening panel discussion about the management of the economic crisis, which also saw the participation of Romano Prodi, former EU Commission President and former Italian Prime Minister, the Austrian Federal Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner and other top opinion leaders.
In the opening statement Ametsreiter pointed out: “ICT and broadband infrastructure make a significant contribution to simplifying both private and professional life, while at the same time enhancing their efficiency. This ranges from regional healthcare systems, public administration to globally interconnected education institutions.”
He also stressed the importance of innovation in times of economic depression in-line with the theories of the well-known Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter and talked about ‘change readiness’ as a positive driving force: “Europe needs change in order to be able to survive against the backdrop of global competition. Change readiness represents a key factor in overcoming the economic crisis. A new and more open mindset is imperative not only for the economy but also for the public sector and for all citizens of the European Union at large.”
Ametsreiter emphasized the importance of broadband and ICT to countries success in competing on a global level in-line with the digital agenda of the European Commission presented in May 2010, which aims at providing all EU citizens with access to broadband Internet, digital services and media by 2013. In May 2010, the Telekom Austria Group also published a study by Frontier Economics (UK) about the current status of broadband rollout in the countries it is operating at present. This survey demonstrated that the CEE countries are lagging behind in terms of broadband rollout. In Alpbach, Ametsreiter presented a number of suggestions as to how broadband and ICT can be fostered without placing a further strain on state budgets. For instance, he suggested that both the economy and consumers would profit a great deal from simplified and accelerated approval procedures for mobile base stations and clear regulatory directives would guarantee legal security and drive the desperately needed glass fiber rollout in Europe.
Against the backdrop of a dramatic surge in data volumes with 4,000 new web addresses created every second, the Telekom Austria Group is strongly committed to meeting the targets laid down in the EU digital agenda, which envisages broadband Internet transmission speeds of up to 30 Mbps for all European citizens by 2013. According to Ametsreiter, this can only be achieved by implementing and rolling-out the latest fixed net and mobile network technologies including HSPA+ and LTE. In fact, the Telekom Austria Group is planning to invest roughly EUR 1 billion for the fixed net and EUR 500 million for the mobile network upgrade until year-end 2013. This ambitious next generation network program encompasses four glass fiber pilot projects in Villach, Klagenfurt and Vienna (15th and 19th district) as well as a VDSL-rollout and is expected to provide potential coverage to 2 million households by 2013 as well as to 750,000 households outside the densely populated urban centers. In addition, LTE trials in the mobile A1 network are currently underway in St.Pölten and in Vienna (2nd and 21st district).
The Telekom Austria Group’s future focus areas are healthcare, transportation, energy and content, which will see the development of a new breed of innovative Internet applications in collaboration with ICT providers built on integrated technologies. The company is strongly engaged in the field of e-health, green IT and smart grid in accordance with the European digital targets. The Videofon, a standardized archiving solution for radiologists, along with mobile solutions for medical care of elderly people as well as specific measures to enhance energy efficiency and cut the company’s ecological footprint (reduction of CO2 emissions, creation of electric vehicle charging stations at the main telephone booth locations by year-end 2010) demonstrate the high level of compliance of the Telekom Austria Group’s strategy with the visions and targets of the European Union.
About Telekom Austria Group:
The Telekom Austria Group is the leading telecommunications provider in Central and Eastern Europe. The Group has been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since November 2000 and is currently operating in eight countries: in Austria (A1 Telekom Austria), Slovenia (Si.mobil), Croatia (Vipnet), the Republics of Serbia (Vip mobile) and Macedonia (Vip operator), Bulgaria (Mobiltel), Belarus (Velcom) and Liechtenstein (mobilkom liechtenstein). The Fixed Net segment encompasses voice telephony, data and IT solutions, Internet access, multimedia services as well as wholesale. The Mobile Communication segment includes mobile voice telephony, mobile Internet and data as well as m-payment solutions. The Telekom Austria Group serves roughly 2.3 million fixed net lines in Austria and has a customer base of 19,2 million mobile subscribers across its markets of operation. The Group’s revenues were EUR 4.8 billion as of year-end 2009. The Management Board includes Hannes Ametsreiter (CEO and Chairman of the Board) and Hans Tschuden (CFO and Vice Chairman of the Board). More detailed information is available at www.telekomaustria.com
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Contact:
Elisabeth Mattes
Spokeswoman and Director Corporate Communications of the Telekom Austria Group
Tel: +43 664 6639187
E-mail: elisabeth.mattes@telekomaustria.com
