The National Audit Office criticized that the MKM and the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) have no idea about the number of households without fast internet cable connection but have good mobile internet availability and therefore do not need the construction of a state-subsidized fast cable network.
The reason is that the rules of defining the so-called white areas in the whole of Europe have been so far based only on cable networks and have not considered the mobile alternative, because it need not always ensure equal quality, explained Oliver Gailan, head of TTJA communications department.
But would there be less costly alternatives to the expensive optical cable? Iling said that broadband connection ensuring stable internet speed could be created via cable or wireless networks. However, the use of a wireless network would require the installation of more aerials and the use of additional network configurations. To sum it up, the result need not be cheaper.
Mobile coverage in Estonia is quite good, but this cannot guarantee stable internet speed to every end user all the time, since it would be influenced by terrain, weather and the number of users in the area.
TTJA believes that the development of state-subsidized fast internet in the future should use the radio link (including mobile connection) as well as cable technologies. Internet connection via satellite, which covers large areas, is also developing very quickly.