The European Union is looking to leverage electric power supply to offer high-speed Internet access. The EU released a recommendation last Friday that provides guidelines on using electric power cables to carry electronic communication data.

'Affordable high-speed internet access is vital to sustain EU competitiveness in many businesses, large and small. I want to make sure that suppliers can exploit all technological possibilities, and that we combine forces in Europe to boost broadband deployment,' said information society and media commissioner Viviane Reding.

"Internet access via power lines has so far taken hold in only a few urban areas, but the potential is huge," said the commission said in a statement.



The Commission asked member states to remove what it describes as unjustified regulatory obstacles on the deployment of broadband power line communications systems. According to a commission spokesman, no member states were opposed to introducing the regulations designed to boost this market and said the recommendation was only to explain how it can be implemented.

The EU is carrying out 100 test trials in Europe and worldwide.