Brussels, 05/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 5 November, the European Commission announced that it has decided to add an additional 120 MHz, around the 2 GHz band, to the portion of the radio electric spectrum reserved for fourth-generation technologies. This band is currently used only for wireless UMTS (“Universal Mobile Telecommunications System”)-type wireless communications, or third generation (3G) networks. This decision obliges the member states to open up the bands in question by 30 June 2014 and lays down harmonised technical conditions for the coexistence of the various technologies. Thanks to this decision, the EU will have a double portion of spectrum, or around 1000 MHz, for high-speed and broadband wireless services, as is already the case in the United States. “This extra spectrum for 4G in Europe means we can better meet the changing and growing demand for broadband. I want to see the member states acting swiftly to change existing licenses. We all win from faster wireless connections in Europe”, said Neelie Kroes, the commissioner responsible for the digital strategy.
This decision means that operators of mobile networks will be able to invest more in improved mobile networks, which will be profitable for the economy as a whole, and that in the long term, consumers will benefit from faster data transfer and a larger number of broadband services. Improved access to the radio-electric spectrum reserved for 4G technologies will substantially help to achieve the objective of the digital strategy in terms of broadband, which is universal broadband coverage for the EU at a speed of at least Mbps by 2020, the Commission stresses. Readers may recall that in the framework of the implementation of the first programme for the radio-electric spectrum policy, and particularly with a view to achieving the objective of a minimum of 1200 MHz for broadband wireless services, the inventory of the spectrum, and its flexible and shared use, feature among the priorities of the EU's reform of the radio electric spectrum, in order to stimulate innovation, effective use and investment. (IL/transl.fl)