Telecoms groups are wired for action over radio waves carve-up

Date: 25/07/02

EU EFFORTS to have more say in the way scarce radio waves are handed out for telecom services will be boosted next week with the creation of a new committee aimed at finding common policies in the sector.

The spectrum group - part of a shake-up of EU telecoms policy agreed last year - aims to boost cooperation in an area where financial stakes are huge but the EU has few powers.

It will help the Union establish common negotiating positions ahead of the regular World Radiocommunications Conferences - the UN forum that decides how radio waves are carved-up for new wireless services.

The group of MEPs, national officials and Commission experts will also improve cooperation in the future roll-out of mobile services in a bid to avoid the licensing chaos that helped scupper the launch of '3G'.

Commission telecoms spokesman Per Haugaard said: 'It will provide a platform to discuss for the first time spectrum policy, which will become more important as wireless develops,' adding the Commission would also unveil details next week of a second committee responsible for boosting links at EU level between regulators on general telecom issues.

This committee would be a platform to discuss even application of new laws and 'to iron out problems upstream'.

Under the new rules, the Commission can veto key decisions taken by national watchdogs if it considers them harmful to cross-border trade in the Union's 15-country single market.

EU efforts to have more say in the way scarce radio waves are handed out for telecom services are set to be boosted with the creation of a new committee aimed at finding common policies in the sector.