CORDIS Archive
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The future of communicationEurope's telecommunications and information industries are world-class and represent a high concentration of leading-edge technologies. A Commission report suggests that their evolution is too slow. A revolutionary approach is needed.Although relatively small in terms of economic output, accounting for less than 5% of Europe's GDP, the telecommunications and information sector forms a vital foundation for the growth and competitiveness of most of Europe's other businesses. It is therefore imperative not only that research and development in this area should be encouraged, but that priorities be established to maintain Europe's global standing.For the past ten years, the important industrial players have given strong support to European research through programmes like ACTS (Advanced Communications Technologies and Services). However, the research has been evolutionary in style, with 'next generation' technologies being brought to the market place, but few, if any, radically new technologies coming into being. Combined with the fact that the demands of Internet users are pushing telephony networks to their limits, one question demands an answer. Should a new, more revolutionary, approach to research be adopted for the future? Communications for Society attempts to answer this question by presenting a visionary look at the future of Europe as an information and communications society. The publication contains the findings of six panels of experts appointed to look at specific issues, and provides a comprehensive overview of a wide variety of emerging applications. Competitive strategyThe first panel looked at research strategy and highlighted the fact that the Internet has blurred the boundaries between the telecommunications and computer industries. Given American predominance in the computer industry, appropriate research is needed to prevent European telecommunications companies losing out to the US in the future. Other recommendations are for a Pan-European Next-Generation Internet Initiative and research into relevant non-technology subjects, such as the impact of deregulation.From network architecture to telepresence The other panels deal with the entire spectrum of technology, from networks to multimedia and telepresence. For example, one panel looked at the technology needed to allow mobile multimedia communications from anywhere, at any time, and at any speed - quite an advance from most people's experience of mobile telephones.
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