The Finnish government plans to assure that every citizen will be no further than 2 kilometers (about a mile and a half) from a connection capable of data transmission of at least 100 Mbps.

The only exceptions would be about 2,000 homes in far-flung corners of the country, the Helsinki Times reported.

One day after Welho, the largest cable operator in Finland, announced having launched a 110 Mbps consumer data service (see “Op provides 110 Mbps in Finland”), Suvi Lindén, Finland’s communications minister, expressed doubt that the country’s commercial providers would extend the service to all citizens.

“The development of that infrastructure is to be guaranteed in a way that all members of the public and companies, regardless of location, will have an opportunity to use information society services,” Lindén added.

Harri Pursiainen, the permanent secretary for the transport and communications minister, said the 100 Mbps target was modest, adding that households in Helsinki would have gigabit-range speeds at their disposal come 2015.

“Data connections are no longer entertainment but a necessity,” Pursiainen added . “Regional, equal communications infrastructure will not come about without state action.”

The government said it would discuss the funding of its broadband program over the course of the fall.

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