Last week, on 21 January, saw the first for the year meeting between representatives from the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the EU Commission dedicated to discussing and finding solutions for one of the major socio-technological problems today – that of the digital divide.
The meeting itself was conducted virtually and involved those CoR members who conform a specialized Broadband Platform team, whose work is to generate ideas and opinions which are then presented twice a year to the Commission as a way of helping it in the formation of its relevant policies.
Read more: European institutions do their part to bridge the digital divide
The European Parliament’s committee exploring AI needs to give the floor to civil society. Big Tech has had enough influence.
When the European Parliament established the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age (AIDA), many in the labour movement thought that, finally, the voices of workers, consumers and citizens would be heard.
Read more: EU: MEPs need to listen to more voices on artificial intelligence
Today we have smartphones, smart TVs and, before long, smart cities. Take a look at different countries, and you’ll notice these cities growing all over the world. Why are these hi-tech, interconnected urban areas becoming so popular, and what’s next for them?
Other “smart” technologies, like phones and home appliances, became popular for their convenience or versatility. The rise of connected cities tells a similar story, but it goes deeper than that. Like many technological advancements, these hi-tech urban areas come mostly out of need. To understand why the cities of the future look this way, you need to know the shortcomings of today’s metropolises.
The European Commission (EC) has come to an agreement on the €7.5 billion budget for the Digital Europe program. The goal is to “improve Europe’s competitiveness in the global digital economy and achieve technological sovereignty.” The EC said it seeks to support the digital transformation that will “guarantee high-quality public services benefiting citizens and businesses.”
The political agreement was reached today (December 14, 2020) with formal approval by the European Parliament and Council anticipated to take place soon with the program starting in January 2021. The budget will span a time period from 2021 to 2o27.
- Börje Ekholm says Europe is years behind in its digital capabilities
- Urges Europe to accelerate its adoption of 5G
- Signals more R&D investments in 5G core
- Swedish vendor holds up well in Q2
Ericsson CEO Börje Ekholm is worried about Europe.
“The problem we have is that Europe is rapidly falling behind in digital infrastructure,” he stated during the vendor’s second quarter earnings presentation. “It's behind in 4G penetration, probably by… an average two to three years – that has led to a lot of loss of economic value in Europe as a continent.