EU outlines plans to capitalise on Web 3.0

The European Commission is considering the implications of Web 3.0 in order to help Europe lead the next generation of the Internet.

While Web 2.0 described the trend towards online collaborative working, including the evolution of social networking sites, wikis and blogs, Web 3.0 will rely on high-performance broadband infrastructure, according to the Commission.

"Web 3.0 means seamless, anytime, anywhere business, entertainment and social networking over fast reliable and secure networks," said Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media.

"It means the end of the divide between mobile and fixed lines. We must make sure that Web 3.0 is made and used in Europe."

By the end of 2007, half of all Europeans should be able to access broadband at more than 2Mbps, a speed that supports TV over the internet, according to a new report from the Commission which details how the new generation of internet use is already on it way.

The European Union recently unveiled a Broadband Performance Index that compared member states on measures such as broadband speed, price, competition and coverage.

Sweden and the Netherlands came top of the index, while the UK occupied fourth place.

The Commission said that the leading countries had demonstrated a " competition-friendly" environment which drives investment in advanced technologies and keeps prices down.

Social factors, such as the presence of digital skills and positive spending on ICT, also aided broadband development, according to the Commission.