This paper analyses the deployment of high-speed broadband networks in the European Union (EU). Its aim is to assess the investment required to meet the targets set by the European Commission (EC) for 2025, within the framework of the European Gigabit Society (EGS). This plan aims to ensure the availability and take-up of very high-capacity fixed and wireless networks, in both urban and rural areas, among households and the main socio-economic drivers. The estimation model presented here uses a methodology supported by data at the local (NUTS3) level to give a bottom-up estimation of the investment gap for each of the EGS objectives, using three different scenarios depending on the mix of wired and wireless technologies offered. The methodology and estimation model used in the paper are examined against other examples and assumptions available in the literature. We also offer a dynamic perspective on the analysis of the evolution of this investment gap over the years 2017–2019, which includes an assessment of the usefulness of these estimation models. The paper concludes by identifying the need for new measures to attract investment from public and private sources, mostly in rural areas, since purely market-driven initiatives fall short by about two-thirds of the required total investment. We also highlight how estimation models, despite their apparent complexity and number of assumptions, have a proven capacity to provide sufficiently accurate figures to guide policy action at the local, regional, national and supra-national levels. The usefulness of these estimation models could be enhanced by the availability of homogeneous and stable information on socio-demographics and on the level of coverage and take-up of broadband networks, at least at NUTS3 level.

本文分析了欧盟（EU）中高速宽带网络的部署。其目的是在欧洲千兆位协会（EGS）的框架内，评估实现欧盟委员会（EC）设定的2025年目标所需的投资。该计划旨在确保在城市和农村地区的家庭和主要社会经济驱动因素中，具有高容量的固定和无线网络的可用性和使用情况。这里介绍的估算模型使用本地（NUTS3）数据支持的方法，对每个EGS的投资缺口进行自下而上的估算目标，使用三种不同的方案，具体取决于所提供的有线和无线技术的组合。本文中使用的方法论和估计模型与文献中的其他示例和假设进行了比较。我们还提供了动态的观点来分析2017-2019年间这种投资缺口的演变，其中包括对这些估算模型的有用性的评估。本文最后指出，需要采取新措施以吸引公共和私人来源的投资（主要是在农村地区），因为纯粹以市场为导向的举措尚不足所需总投资的三分之二。我们还将重点介绍估算模型，尽管它们看起来很复杂，而且假设数量众多，有能力提供足够准确的数据来指导地方，区域，国家和超国家级的政策行动。这些估计模型的实用性可以通过至少在NUTS3级别上获得有关社会人口统计资料以及宽带网络的覆盖和使用水平的同质和稳定信息来增强。