Speeches and Statements by the Government Spokesman

Digital ERT

Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos gave an interview on August 8, 2007 about the free distribution, by the end of this year, of 50.000 Digital TV decoders to people with disabilities, providing them thus with accessibility to Greek public broadcaster’s (ERT) digital channel "Prisma+", which is the first of its kind, focusing on and serving the needs of people with disabilities.

The spokesman said that "Prisma+" was a channel fully accessible to those visually impaired, using sign language, subtitles and narrative descriptions. In addition to the main sign-language news bulletin at 21:00, there will be children's programmes, entertainment, current affairs, documentaries, series and films.

2nd International Conference on Broadband Internet

A three-day international conference on Broadband Internet was held in Athens between June 1-3, 2007, addressing issues of national policy for the development of Broadband Internet technology and services, international partnerships, regulatory actions needed for its growth etc. The conference also examined the state of broadband services in Greece (Fact Sheet: Development of broadband services in Greece and the EU) from the point of view of the electronic communications market as well as civil society.

The event, "Exploring the Global Dynamics of Broadband Internet", was organised for the second consecutive year by Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT) and was held at the Lagonissi Grand Resort Hotel, on the coastal outskirts of Athens. Speakers included government officials, representatives of National Regulatory Authorities, international organisations and NGOs, CEOs, academics, communication professionals and others; Mme Viviane Reding, European Commissioner responsible for Information Society & Media, was keynote speaker ( Why Greece needs broadband and why it needs it now - a European perspective).

In his opening address, the Minister of State and Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopolos referred to government initiatives branding broadband as a policy flagship, noting that 2007 has been designated by the Greek Prime Minister as “Year for Broadband” in Greece.

Pointing to recent legislation (3431/2006) that has prompted a huge increase of broadband coverage and penetration in the country, the Minister briefly outlined policy actions within the framework of the Greek Digital Strategy which has set targets increasing broadband penetration to EU average within the next two years.

Drawing an analogy from the past to underline the issue’s priority in terms of national policy, the Minister compared the broadband connection challenge facing the world today to that of road, rail and power network links in the past, stressing the significance of this challenge for this generation and those to come. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to provide incentives and utmost support to all parties involved in this huge and ambitious endeavour, vital for boosting the country’s competitiveness and economic growth that would contribute to progress in all areas, increasing access, enhancing transparency, improving terms and conditions, and ultimately effecting society as a whole in the process.