Brussels, 31/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - On 4 February, the European Commission organised a public hearing on the report detailing the barriers to the be removed in order to ensure, through open platforms, universal access to the new services and applications of the information society in the fields of telecommunications, digital television and third generation mobile communications. During this event the Commission wants to verify whether its analysis is shared by consumers and market actors.
The principal for the creation of open platforms is already approved at the EU level. These platforms offer free choice in terms of access to applications and services from information society, making it possible to reach different final user terminals through various platforms. The 'open' nature of a platform depends upon the interoperability of the various services offered, which in turn depend upon the opportunity for third parties of having access to the software on which the application program interfaces (API interfaces) are based. These API interfaces enable the software from one application (for example SMS) to integrate with the operating system and the periphery material of a final user (for example, a mobile telephone). Third parties need access to the technical specifications of the API in order to build interoperable applications and enable them to work on various platforms. Without open API between networks and services, the platforms using owner standards may offer a package regrouping all the elements of electronic services and, if the owner technology is not available for third parties, render the client captive both of the platform and the grouped services, which reduces choice.
Concerning interactive television services, the new regulatory framework for networks and electronic communications services encourages the use of open API and the interoperability of services and equipment, and entrusts the Commission with investigating the extent to which the interoperability of digital television services has been achieved by 2004. In the sector of mobile communications, they are presently working on the realisation of service interoperability in the framework of the deployment of third generation services. The report concludes that, for the time being, the technical barriers are not of a nature to justify an initiative on the regulatory level, but that the national and European programmes, such as the 'eEUROPE 2005' action plan must nevertheless be maintained. The Commission will present a Communication following the public consultation process, which will finish on 15 February.