National broadband plan

Greece was without any fiber optic connections at least until June, the latest figures from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have shown. Greece also ranked last among the OECD's 37 member-states on the index showing the ratio of fiber optic broadband connections to the total number of landline broadband connections.

Greece secured EU regulatory approval on Wednesday for a 300-million-euro ($334.4 million) scheme to roll out an ultrafast broadband network across the country.

The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and private investors.

While broadband access in Greece is increasing, the country still lags in the critical sectors of mobile and fiber-optic broadband. As far as the former is concerned, the country ranks 35th among the 37 OECD member countries, while in terms of the latter, it remains stable, coming last in 37th place.

European wireless network for airline passengers will be launched by the end of June, yesterday companies working on the project said to Reuters.

Twenty of the largest archaeological sites and museums in Greece will gradually gain access to advanced broadband services after the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and a mobile operator. The total deal is expected to cost €2 million with the aim of utilising technology to better showcase and promote the vast Greek cultural heritage and history.

The European Union aims to spur the roll-out of fast broadband across the 28-nation bloc by relaxing rules that force telecom companies to open up their networks to competitors.

A communications association in Turkey warned on April 4 about the need for an extra 450,000 kilometers of new substructure investment in the country to fully realize the potential of the advanced 4G technologies, dubbed 4.5G, which became operation on April 1.