As part of the ICT Spring Conference held during the summer, Luxembourg's Minister of Communications and Media, François Biltgen, and the Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Jeannot Krecké, presented an update on the latest developments in the ICT sector in Luxembourg. In particular, they focused on the specific sector of online video games - this sector has an exponential growth potential in Luxembourg's fertile ground, as illustrated by the establishment of new businesses recently.

The government's on-going efforts in developing the technological infrastructure of the country include investments in communication highways that are now bearing fruit, especially by attracting players in online video games, a sector that is very technologically demanding.

The U.S. company OnLive Inc. chose Luxembourg as the location to install the technology centre of its European operations. Based in Palo Alto, California, this innovative company has met the challenge of providing a platform for online games based entirely "in the cloud", making the game more accessible online, with the consumer now downloading games no longer requiring high-powered graphics card as the advanced technology is provided entirely from the cloud.

Two other companies have established their European operations in Luxembourg within the past year: the U.S. start-up and fast-growing Kabam and the Korean company Nexon.

• Kabam offers social games and has established its European operations, as Kabam-Europe, in Luxembourg, where the games will be made particularly suitable in several languages for the international market;

• Nexon is specialised in online games called MMOs ("massive multiplayer online games") and was among the first to introduce the model of "micro-payment" by offering options for the purchase of objects or avatars. Nexon Europe SARL is established in Luxembourg and aims to manage the operational activities for development, marketing and public relations for the European market.