1. High Speed Broadband – A Challenge for Europe’s Regions European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology Brussels, 19 th September 2012

2. ERNACT Legal Status Focus Set Up Network Partners Business Model Current Status European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) Region & City Information and Communications Technology (ICT) - broadband, wireless, e-public services 1991 Regions & Cities in Europe Deliver practical trans-European Digital Agenda projects for European Regions 6 Live ICT trans-European Projects

3. The ERNACT network is implementing Digital Agenda projects with 44 European Regions and Cities

4. ERNACT regions harness EU Programmes in a coherent manner to achieve Digital Agenda goals

5. Project Metrics Participation in 26 approved transnational projects 79 % success rate € 2 Million average 15 as a Lead partner 8 as a partner 3 as a consultant/facilitator

6. ERNACT is currently implementing the following Digital Agenda projects: Focus Next Generation Broadband for Rural Areas. Deploying e-services in the Atlantic Area Developing Mobile Apps for Tourism in Europe’s Northern periphery Impact of Social Media on public service delivery in regions Helping Media sector go Digital Developing Plans for e-assisted energy efficiency transport in Europe’s regions Budget 1.5m € 2.0m € 1.5m € 2.4m € 1.8m € 1.4m € EU Prog 4C 4B 4C

7. Budget € 1,393,639 Duration Apr’2012 – Mar’2015 (36 months) Funding programme Enhancing Next Generation Access Growth in Europe Help rural regions across Europe to better understand and address: “How to build a high speed broadband (HSB) Network and promote its use at efficient cost in rural areas”. Aim ENGAGE

8. PartnerCountry NIVERLAN Joint AuthorityFrance University of Bremen - TZIGermany ERNACT EEIG Ireland/N. Ireland Kent County CouncilUK Globalgarve-Cooperation and DevelopmentPortugal Harghita County CouncilRomania Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology Slovenia University of Ljubljana Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia Finland Suupohja Economic Development Agency Self-government of the Warmińsko- Mazurskie Voivodeship Poland IdenTICConsortiumSpain ENGAGE: Partners

9. North West Region implementation plan Financial support Examine European Good practices External experts advice Study visits / Thematic workshops Exchange of staff based on partners interests Decision makers engagement Financial support search Communication activities ENGAGE: Methodology

10. ENGAGE: Opportunities Learn and share experiences with advanced HSB regions in Europe Share and promote NI experiences Involve relevant stakeholders

11. Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland RegionNetwork 5000 km2 44 000 inh 8,8 inh/km2 55 villages with 50- 500 people per village and seven municipality centres Open access FTTx network Over 2000 households and businesses with FTTH- connection (20 % penetration) Many customers getting 100 Mbits/s symmetrical connections Possiblility to choose among 6 ISPs All the public places such as schools, hospitals, libraries, day care etc. have fibre and they form one big secure intranet Fast internet connections have made it possible for people as well as businesses to survive in the countryside Financed with bank loans, regional, national & EU- funds and money coming from the end-customers

12. Jose Manuel San Emeterio Programme Manager ERNACT Network Unit 150, CoLab LYIT, Port Road Letterkenny Co. Donegal Ireland email: jsanemeterio@ernact.eu tel: +353 74 91 68212 web: www.ernact.eu