There has been a high take-up of some government subsidies for retail fixed broadband plans
"Government subsidies for fixed broadband plans can provide a boost to fixed broadband penetration and help to address consumer affordability concerns, but may not be sufficient on their own to overcome all challenges."
A number of governments around the world have started to offer subsidies for retail fixed broadband plans, sometimes in conjunction with funding for devices such as laptops.1 However there remains some doubt about the effectiveness of such schemes and whether they are needed. In this article, we assess the impact of the schemes that have been launched in the USA, Italy and Greece and analyse the implications for stakeholders in other markets.