Brussels, 15/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - “Spectrum must be the backbone of internet revolution, not the bottleneck”, said the commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, speaking at the 6th Annual European Spectrum Management Conference on 14 June in Brussels. She called for an effective radio spectrum policy saying Europe needs “intelligence and coherent use of radio frequency spectrum”, which is essential for wireless broadband deployment. Such infrastructure, she said, is a key part of providing the “digital oxygen” without which the internet revolution cannot flourish. Presenting her vision of efficient, flexible and competitive spectrum usage, she urged the EU's Council and Parliament to quickly adopt an ambitious radio spectrum policy programme, as proposed by the European Commission on 20 September 2010. The most urgent points, she underlined, are: (1) the need to urgently free up sufficient spectrum for wireless broadband; (2) the creation of an EU-wide inventory and review of current spectrum use to ensure coherence and efficiency; and (3) the need for the EU to speak with one voice in international fora like the forthcoming World Radio-communications Conference. “Europe is taking part in a global game”, she said, going on to warn: “And we are at risk of being outclassed by the other players”. (I.L./transl.jl)