The European Commission (EC) has launched two public consultations within the scope of the development of the Digital Agenda: one on the creation of single Europe-wide phone numbers for European Union (EU) businesses, and another on the review of EU mobile phone roaming rules.
In the first case, the EC is asking businesses, telecoms operators, public authorities and consumers whether they see benefits in a system that would allow businesses to use the same telephone number in all EU Member States. This consultation, whose reply deadline is 28 February 2011, will enable the Commission to assess market demand for European business phone numbers and, if necessary, formulate initiatives for the introduction of such numbers.
Within the scope of the second initiative, the Commission is inviting all stakeholders to assess current EU rules on roaming and to share ideas on the best way to boost competition. Comments may be sent until 11 February 2011. The results obtained will feed into the review of the current European Roaming Regulation, which the EC must conclude by the end of June 2011.
Further information:
- Public consultation on the future harmonisation of numbering resources for the provision of business services http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/library/public_consult/numbering_harmonisation
- Public consultation on a review of the functioning of Regulation (EC) No 544/2009 (the ''Roaming Regulation'') http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/library/public_consult/roaming
