On 23 November 2011, the European Commission announced that it currently saw no need to change the basic concept, principles or scope of European Union (EU) rules on Universal Service (US) to include mobile telecommunications services and broadband connections at EU level.
This conclusion was reached on the basis of a public consultation conducted during the second quarter of 2010 and the third periodic review of the scope of this service.
The Commission also concluded that, at this stage, it would not be appropriate to set a single broadband connection speed at EU level under the universal service rules, given the very different stages of development of telecoms networks in the Member States and the potential costs involved.
Further information:
- Digital Agenda: Commission indicates no fundamental change to Universal Service http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/1400&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- Communication from the Commission Com(2011) 795 final: Universal service in e-communications http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/doc/library/communications_reports/universal_service/comm_us_en.pdf
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- EC launches consultation on universal service of telecommunications - closes 7 May https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1015203
