Brussels, 23/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EU's initiative to free up parts of the radio spectrum for innovative wireless technologies is off to a good start, but will need a sustained effort from EU Member States, MEPs and industry to succeed, says the European Commission in its first annual progress report on radio spectrum policy in the EU. Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner Olli Rehn cmmented: “Harmonisation of spectrum must be encouraged and more effort must be made to resolve radio interference and regulatory enforcement problems that slow the cross-border take-up of wireless technologies”. The report adopted on 20 July looks at measures taken under the new telecoms package (in particular the Radio spectrum Decision) to allocate the radio spectrum more efficiently, to expand the single market for innovative new radio-based technologies.
Rapid growth in the use of wireless applications highlights the need for Europe to free up more spectrum more quickly. The danger that unilateral reforms of spectrum management could fragment the EU market is driving the development of a common EU-wide approach, notes the Commission. The report looks at the implementation of the Radio Spectrum Decision (RSD) since its adoption in 2002. The RSD aims to ensure a functioning single market for radio equipment and services, inter alia by using spectrum effectively, developing spectrum policy to increase productivity via technological innovation, lowering barriers for access to spectrum, and supporting the competitiveness of the EU radio manufacturing and services sectors.
The report notes that the Commission has set up a Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) to advise it on key aims in the area of spectrum allocation, assignment and licensing conditions and that specific harmonised spectrum solutions have been developed by the Commission together with the Radio Spectrum Committee (RSC) of Member State experts in a number of areas. The first of these implementing measures, harmonising radio spectrum in the 79 GHz range for the use of automotive short range radars throughout the EU, was adopted in the form of a Commission Decision on 8 July 2004. These technologies have huge potential to enhance competitiveness and deliver new public services, comments the Commission.
The Commission report notes that in terms of the future, the creation of an Internal Market for wireless equipment will require a continued close interaction between different regulatory tools, notably between the RSD and the R&TTE Directive (1999/5/E), which further harmonises and simplifies regulations for putting radio equipment on the market and into operation across the EU. The Commission invites Member States to continue supporting EU radio spectrum policies, and welcomes the good cooperation from the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) and standards.