 in the peripheral regions of the Community, so as tures for flexible integration of telematic services. to improve their access to advanced telecommunications ser- 6. Information security, covering security relating to communica- vices. This aim was achieved primarily by the Special Telecom- tions management and service administration. munications Action for Regional Development (STAR) Advanced communications experiments. These develop appli- programme, introduced in October 1986 and covering the cations for IBC and include various areas of business e.g. period 1987 to 1991 (Martin, 1991). Close to one billion ECUs banking, publishing, distribution, manufacturing, etc. were provided by the European Regional Development Fund 8. Test infrastructure and interworking, which are concerned with (ERDF), which covered part of the funding for this project, the looking at interworking between broadband systems and also rest being made up by public and private investors in the with the testing of application projects. regions concerned. Figure 11.4 shows the main stages in the RACE programme leading to the introduction of the first IBC commercial service from the end of 1995. The key target dates are: 11.3.3.3 1993. Completion of major standardisation activities and the early introduction of prototypes for commercial customers. Invest- The RACE (Research and development in Advanced Communica- ment decisions for the pan-European IBC network and services tion technologies in Europe) programme represents a major EC firmed up. initiative for the 'introduction of Integrated Broadband Communi- 1994. Optical link connecting capital cities of the EC are in place. cations (IBC), taking into account the evolving ISDN and national 1995. Initial installation of IBC for major customers and continu- introduction strategies, progressing to Community-wide services by ation of field trials. 1995'. The aim is to ensure that the telecommunications network is 1996. Offering of first basic commercial IBC services, based on truly integrated, by