Brussels, 02/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - It is necessary to pursue the task and support the exceptional growth in mobile data traffic, in an effort to consolidate competitiveness and the leadership of the European Union in the digital economy, declared Swedish MEP Gunnar Hökmark (EPP). Hökmark is rapporteur on the European Radio Spectrum Programme and was speaking during a public hearing on the subject in Brussels on Tuesday 1st February. New spectrum must be made available as soon as possible to ensure that all Europeans are connected but not to the detriment of radio broadcasters and public services. Freeing up portions of additional spectrum has to be carried out in a way that avoids the latter having to pay the price for new radio spectrum frequency allocations, explained Hökmark. Enhancing spectrum coordination and harmonisation is necessary if the full potential of the internal market is to be realised and if economic growth in Europe is to be boosted, concluded the MEP. (I.L./transl.fl)