Final phase of STAR programme
The Special Telecommunications Action for Regional Development (STAR, 1987-1991) was designed to make use of advanced telecommunications services to assist in the economic development of the Less Favoured Regions (LFRs) of the European Community. The five-year operational plan has provided Community funding of ECU 761 million, in the context of the Community Structural Funds, to support two main areas: - Network infrastructure and ease of access to main networks, particularly integrated services digital networks (ISDN), data networks, mobile communications networks, etc; - Provision of advanced telecommunications services (ATS) including access to databases (especially those using videotex), office automation services, electronic mail services, mobile communications services, teleworking services, etc. The STAR programme entered its final phase when financial commitments were made in October 1991. The implementation phase concludes at the end of June 1993; and some Member States have already completed their projects. The evaluation of STAR is now being undertaken and will provide indications for future action lines. Among actions following or benefiting from STAR is the TELEMATIQUE programme(1991-1993), begun within STAR and financed jointly by the Member States and the EEC, with the total contribution of the European Regional Development Fund estimated at around ECU 200 million. TELEMATIQUE aims is to promote advanced telecommunications services in Objective 1 regions (regions whose development is lagging), by facilitating their introduction into SMEs, into the public sector (drawing on the results of programmes such as DRIVE, AIM and DELTA) and by improving standardized access to data communications networks within the community. The TELEMATIQUE operational phase is now under way. Further actions are also in motion which will provide input to future discussion on Structural Funds policy. These include: - Evaluation of both STAR and TELEMATIQUE at Member State and Community levels, contributing to an understanding of future needs; - Studies carried out to evaluate regional variations in the level of telecommunications services in the Community, to define the service levels and the investment required to achieve minimum European Community standards; - Community actions in the fields of telematic networks between administrations, European ISDN and broadband networks, with consideration in each case of the needs of peripheral and less favoured regions.