Fixed Broadband Take-Up in Europe

Abstract

In this article the value of “Fixed Broadband Take Up” in Europe is investigated. Data are collected from the DESI-Digital Economy and Society Index for 28 countries in the period 2016-2021. Data are analyzed with Panel Data with Fixed Effects and Random Effects. The Fixed Broadband Take-Up value is positively associated with the value of "Connectivity", "Human Capital", "Desi Index", "Fast BB NGA Coverage", "Fixed Very High-Capacity Network VHCN coverage". Fixed Broadband Take-Up value is negatively associated with "Digital Public Services for Businesses", "e-Government", "At least Basic Digital Skills", "At Least Basic Software Skills", "Above Basic Digital Skills", "Advanced Skills and Development", "Integration of Digital Technology", "Broadband Price Index", "Mobile Broadband", "Fixed Broadband Coverage". Subsequently the k-Means algorithm optimized by the Silhouette coefficient was used to identify the number of clusters. The analysis shows the presence of the two clusters. Eight different machine learning algorithms were then used to predict the future value of the "Fixed Broadband Take-Up in Europe". The analysis shows that the most efficient algorithm for the prediction is "ANN-Artificial Neural Network" with an estimated value of the prediction equal to 26.39%.

Broadband Price Index in Europe

“…However, these effects appear to be high in the presence of a market system capable of reducing the value of broadband prices to facilitate a wider digitization in businesses, households, and institutions. The distribution of fixed broadband is positively associated with the growth of digitization at European level (Leogrande, et al, 2022) . However, the possibility of using fixed broadband as a driver of digitization also depends on broadband prices.…”

The Role of Broadband Price Index in Fostering Economic Growth and Digitization in Europe

“…The distribution of fixed broadband is positively associated with the growth of digitization at European level [23]. However, the possibility of using fixed broadband as a driver of digitization also depends on broadband prices.…”

The Determinants of Internet User Skills in Europe

“…Finally the presence of internet user skills is also necessary to promote the diffusion of ICT Specialists [26] and for e-government [27]. Furthermore, there are external market forces, such as the price of internet subscriptions [28] and access to broadband [29] , which can have an impact in favoring or redirecting the acquisition of internet user skills by citizens. A relevant part of the article is devoted to the relationship between clusterization with the k-Means algorithm optimized with the Silhouette coefficient and clustering with the Elbow method.…”