Brussels, 09/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - For the first time for a number of years, telecoms sector investment fell in 2008, a new study by the European Institute for Telecommunications and Media (IDATE), conducted for the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO) shows. Although less badly affected by the global economic and financial crisis than other sectors, telecoms revenue rose by only 0.8% in 2008, compared with 1.7% in 2007, and investment fell by 1% to €47.2 billion. Prospects for 2009 give little cause for cheer, with a still more significant slowdown in turnover (0.5%). As well as the crisis, uncertainty hanging over the sector, following the delay in adopting the new regulatory framework for electronic telecommunications is the direct reason for the fall, especially noticeable in investment by the largest operators in the fixed segment. “This can be mainly explained by the fact that large-scale investments in high speed access networks are slower than expected because of both economic and regulatory uncertainty,” said Didier Pouillot of IDATE. “Decreasing investment is a worrying trend that EU policy makers should urgently address by providing investment incentives in the form of a regulatory regime which recognises the considerable risks in new generation roll-out,” said ETNO Director Michael Bartholomew. (I.L./transl.rt)