The European Parliament “strongly endorsed” a proposed Radio Spectrum Policy Programme, which is said to mark “a significant step” toward the more coordinated and efficient use of spectrum in the EU. The intention is to establish a five-year policy programme which, in particular, will ensure that by 2013 there is sufficient spectrum available for wireless broadband services. The proposals form part of Europe’s Digital Agenda, which is intended to bridge the “digital divide” by delivering internet access throughout the EU by 2013. In a statement, the European Parliament said that “the allocation of frequencies is matter for national authorities not the EU, but the rules on how to divide up the spectrum among internet providers and users need to be set at European level.”
The intention is that by 2012 member countries should complete the process of licensing spectrum bands which have already been technically harmonised at the EU level for the use of wireless broadband – 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2.5GHz, and 3.4–3.8GHz. In addition, countries are being asked to open the 800MHz band by 1 January 2013, while “foreseeing possible derogations in exceptional cases.” Beyond 2013, members of the Parliament want to be “even bolder,” with 1.5GHz and 2.3GHZ frequencies also made available, with at least 1,200MHz of spectrum available for mobile data traffic by 2015. It has also said that the European Commission should monitor whether additional bands, such as 700MHz, should be harmonised to make way for new users and services.
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