Digital economy will lead the way, says Reding

12:37 6th August 2009

The European digital sector will help lead Europe out of recession, says EU commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding.

According to the latest assessment of Europe's digital sector, more than half of Europeans (56 per cent) now regularly use the internet and eight in ten have a high-speed broadband connection.

A new generation of "digitally savvy" young people will help lead the economic recovery, she says.

"We should seize the opportunity of a new generation of Europeans who will soon be calling the shots in the European market place. These young people are intensive internet users and are also highly demanding consumers," she notes.

People without the skills needed to take up new jobs and networking careers can easily up-skill through part-time courses.

Companies are likely to look to new business models and will rely on people with the appropriate training and skills, the commission's report concludes.

According to internetworldstats.com and Nielsen Online, there are 1.5 billion internet users worldwide.

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