Brussels, 09/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - The last-minute agreement on the telecoms package reached in the Conciliation Committee on Thursday 5 November (see EUROPE 10013) has come as a relief to the sector waiting for clear rules to help attract the investment needed to finance next generation networks. The incumbent operators of ETNO (European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association) have said that the agreement marks the end of a long period of uncertainty. “Now … the priority must be to ensure that the new provisions to reinforce incentives for investment in next generation access networks are put into regulatory practice for the benefit of Europe's economy and society,” said ETNO Director Michael Bartholomew. Europe still lags well behind the United States and Asia in the development of high speed broadband, ETNO says, calling on the European Commission to ensure that the pending recommendation on next generation access (NGA) networks fully reflects the provisions in the revised telecoms package directives which recommend a more targeted, less regulated approach. GSMA, which represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry, is also pleased with the agreement. “The agreement on the package will provide a stable framework that can play an important role in creating an investment environment conducive to the development of new services for Europe's consumers and businesses,” said Martin Whitehead, Director of GSMA Europe. Such an environment is urgently needed and crucial to boosting the competitiveness of the sector and overcoming the current economic downturn, he argued. BEUC, the European Consumers' Organisation, has congratulated the European Parliament on its tenacity in managing to retain the spirit of Amendment 138 in the framework directive. “It has been a long hard battle but at least all sides have acknowledged that fundamental rights of users need to be guaranteed in the digital world,” stated BEUC Director General Monique Goyens. BEUC, nevertheless, calls for vigilance to ensure that member states implement the laws fairly and correctly and that none adopt laws, such as the French Hadopi Law which ignores rights of defence when the internet link has been cut off. Consumers associations say there is a need for a lasting solution that is fair to all to the issue of illegal downloading which is hurting the audiovisual sector. (I.L./transl.rt)