Everyone in the European Union (EU) will have access to broadband within three years, according to proposals from the European Commission (EC).

The EC's Digital Agenda sets out plans to expand access to broadband to everyone across Europe by 2013, opening up the internet to the 30 per cent of Europeans who have never used the web.

Plans also include bringing superfast broadband networks of up to 100Mbps to half the population by 2020.

Only one per cent of Europeans have access to high-speed broadband, such as fibre-optic technology, while in Japan and South Korea the figure is over ten per cent.

Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: "The commission wants to encourage investment in broadband and fibre-based networks.

"The plan advocates greater use of IT in all sectors of society. Seven goals are identified, starting with the removal of barriers to doing business across national borders."

Recently, Ms Kroes has urged national governments to make old analogue television frequencies available for next-generation wireless broadband when the digital switchover finishes.

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