The Communication from the European Commission on mobile broadband services, dated 30 June 2004, evaluates the regulatory and political environment of mobile broadband services, identifying the developments which were made in this sector as well as the challenges they face and how to overcome them. The transformation of mobile communications is acknowledged and the European Union (EU), in order to ensure the existing success and to prepare the future, will have to take agreed and objective measures at all levels: research, spectrum management, sector regulation policies and so forth.
Interoperability between communication systems and structures is seen as one of the greatest challenges to be overcome. Should the industry do not develop converging infrastructures and services, the 3G market could remain fragmented.
The new approaches to spectrum management and the necessary action to be developed by the Commission in the radio spectrum rights market are some of the issues that require a follow-up by the Commission and, specially, by the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG). This Group, which is going to define the priorities for the preparation of the World Radiocommunications Conference 2007 (WRC-07), including the ones related to the 3rd mobile generation, is also going to prepare an Opinion about the coordinated approach to the radio spectrum resources for mobile platforms, aiming to establish a strategic vision for the future radio spectrum policy.
The Communication also covers the issue of e-payments, underlying the need of a proportional and clear regulatory environment, as a fundamental element for the growth of mobile broadband services. As far as this is concerned, the Commission warns that there is at present considerable uncertainty regarding the application of EC rules on e-money and money laundering to mobile payment services. Therefore, based on the results of the public consultation on the application of the e-money Directive, the Commission wishes to propose a new legal framework for payments within the EU. At short term, the Commission envisages the adoption of certain guidelines for the national regulators, as application criteria of that Directive, which should reflect themes such as financial stability, money laundry and risks in the protection of consumers.
On the other hand, reiterating the content of the recent Communication “Connecting Europe at high speed”, the Commission warns the Member-states for the regulatory barriers in the establishment of new base stations and masts, which affect the development of mobile broadband services.
The contents are also another issue that should be considered in the development of mobile communications services, the Commission paying special attention to the follow-up of the application of Directive 2001/29/CE, of 22 May, on harmonization of certain aspects related to copyrights and other rights of the information society, whereby a report about the respective application shall by published soon by the Commission.
Finally, the Commission also addresses other subjects such as research and development, the authentication process and the secure identification at the level of transactions (which also requires measures concerning protection of minors and against illegal contents) as well as international cooperation in the development of global and open communications development standards so as to get and ensure interoperability of systems and roaming.
Consult:
Further information:
- Nota de imprensa sobre a Comunicação http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/828&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Commission Communication on the situation of the broadband strategies in the European Union https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=202855
- Telecom Council Conclusions https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=204340
- RSPG - Radio Spectrum Policy Group https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=109880
