EU funds to connect over 2,400 rural Romanian schools to the Internet

The Romanian Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Education have signed a financing contract for European structural funds that will provide broadband Internet connection to more then 2,400 schools in rural areas and small towns. This will require an investment of approximately EUR 30 million. "The overall objective is to facilitate public access for educational institutions in rural areas and small towns to modern communications," states a Ministry of Communications release. The main objectives are to connect 2,446 schools in rural areas and in small towns to broadband internet connection, giving Internet access to approximately 650,000 students and about 48,000 teachers in disadvantaged areas, and provide technical support for all schools involved in the project. The number of overall fixed Internet connections in Romania reached 3.13 million in the first half of 2011 according to the country’s Communications Authority (ANCOM). Of the broadband connections, 98 percent had a transfer speed of at least 2 Mbps, while 62 percent had at least a 10 Mbps speed. The penetration rate for broadband Internet access is 14.6 percent, while the penetration rate for households is 38.7 percent. Romania has around 20 million inhabitants. Alex Camburu, alex.camburu@romania-insider.com (photo source: Sxc.hu)