Brussels, 13/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - “If Europe is not to be outrun by other global actors, we must allocate more frequencies for mobile internet solutions” declared Swedish MEP Gunnar Hökmark (EPP), during a public hearing on the strategic spectrum programme organised on Wednesday 12 January. Hökmark is rapporteur on this subject and believes that exceptional growth in mobile data traffic is only the beginning of the phenomenon and that this will increase massively. In a future society where everything will be connected up, Europe is in danger of reaching maximum capacity which is why the MEP believes European leaders should make “courageous political decisions” to help Europe remain on track and locate future digital solutions. Hökmark considers that it is important that the allocation of more frequencies is supportive of increased competition in the market, with effective competition as a cornerstone of the internal market and that in this connection, “any accumulation of rights of use of radio frequencies must respect this principle”. The rapporteur brought the hearing to a close by pointing out the crucial importance of efficient radio spectrum management for cultural content. He asserted that the “internet has opened unprecedented opportunities for TV and content distribution and it is therefore crucial that the cultural sector is not left behind. (I.L./transl.fl)