Brussels, 18/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - The member states are calling for greater flexibility in Community management of the 470-790 MHz frequency band. According to a draft agreement to be discussed at the next Telecommunications Council on Thursday 26 May, they want more time to publish their national strategies and to allocate the “golden frequencies” to wireless broadband.
Golden frequencies. The draft text - approved by 26 delegations at the meeting of permanent representatives on 11 May - carries forward the main thrust of the proposal for a decision presented by the Commission at the start of the year. It backs better coordination of the spectrum across the EU in order to avoid interference and to allow innovative services - such as connected cars and telecare - to operate over the whole continent. It, therefore, takes up the idea of assigning 694-790 MHz frequencies to mobile telephony services by 2020. However, it builds in a flexibility margin of two years in case of duly substantiated reasons (for example, were the financial costs to exceed the revenue expected to be generated by award procedures or force majeure). The other member states and the Commission should, the text says, be informed of any delay and the member states should take the necessary steps to minimise resulting interference in the neighbouring member states.
At the same time, the draft agreement calls, on the part of the states, for more time to be granted for the preparation and adoption of their national roadmaps: it suggests a date of 2018 rather than 2017, as proposed by the Commission. It also removes the date of 2022 for the transfer or leasing of rights of use in the 694-790 MHz band for electronic communications services.
Lower frequencies. The text also introduces a time limit (until 2030) for priority access for audiovisual services to sub-700 MHz frequencies (490-694 MHz). It states that the 470-694 MHz frequency band or parts thereof should be available “at least until 2030” for the terrestrial provision of broadcasting services, including free television and for use by wireless audio PMSE equipment, based on national needs. This deadline was proposed by the radio spectrum policy group (RSPG) chaired by Pascal Lamy but did not feature in the Commission's proposal for a decision. Consequently, the draft text removes the idea of re-assessment of the use of sub-700 MHz frequencies by 2025 at the latest.
Unsurprisingly, the text adds that “this decision is without prejudice to the right of member states to organise and use their spectrum for the purposes of public order, public security and defence”.
The draft general approach will be put to the vote at the Telecommunications Council on 26 May. Things are moving more slowly in the Parliament, Patrizia Toia (S&D, Italy) only having been appointed rapporteur for the industry, research and energy committee at the start of March.
The text of the Council general approach can be accessed at:
http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-8793-2016-INIT/en/pdf . (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)