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The European Commission (EC) is investigating the potential for all of Europe's businesses and consumers to have high-speed internet by 2010.

Viviane Reding, the European Union's telecoms commissioner, said high-speed internet is essential for economic growth and 'the passport to the information society'.

Take up across the continent has been increasing rapidly, according to a report from the EC, but access is still not available to some parts of Europe.

A recent review of services across the country found more businesses are placing their goods online and working via internet tools, meaning the need to create competitiveness in the technologies is higher.

Reding says: 'Web 3.0 means seamless 'anytime, anywhere' business ... over fast reliable and secure networks.'

Faster speeds are being seen across the continent, with half of the internet users reviewed saying they had speeds of up to two megabits per second at the end of 2007, which is twice as fast than the year before.

Another move made by Reding recently is the cap on roaming mobile calls, reducing costs for businesspeople working abroad.

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