The economic impact of telecommunications infrastructure on economic growth is enormous. Studies on the impact of ICT have indicated approximately a third of economic growth can be attributed to telecommunications.
Education
Rural Wings
"Rural Wings" was a pan-European project supported under the European Commission's Sixth Framework Research Programme. Its purpose was to promote EU social policy objectives, especially the regeneration of remote rural communities, by bringing them the benefits of e-learning. This project developed an advanced learning platform, using satellite access technologies, to support the creation of a new culture in rural communities; promoting digital literacy and reducing resistance to the use of new technologies. The platform promoted a user-centred educational approach in different knowledge spaces (at school, at work, at home) that was designed to offer stimulating and creative learning environments suitable for vibrant rural user communities.
A major area of work led by Avanti included the provision of a European-wide market analysis and roadmap for the commercialisation and roll-out of remote education services.
The project provided broadband connectivity for more than 125 remote communities in 14 countries across Europe, from the high Arctic area of Sweden through the mountains of Greece to Georgia in the east.