The creation of a single telecoms market in Europe moved closer to becoming a reality after the European Parliament’s Industry and Research Committee approved the package.

The Telecoms Single Market Package was proposed by the European Commission in September 2013 and includes an end to roaming charges, coordinating spectrum licensing for wireless broadband and provisions to make it easier for consumers to switch service providers.

The next stage for the regulation is a vote in plenary by all MEPs on 3 April.

EU member states are currently discussing the regulation in working groups and the Commission expects final agreement of the regulation to take place by the end of the year.

EU digital commissioner Neelie Kroes, who is driving the regulation, welcomed the news, saying the package was about “ensuring a dynamic, healthy, competitive telecoms sector, fit to face the future”.

“It’s about arming every European business with the tools and networks they need to innovate and grow. And giving every European citizen the seamless connectivity they have come to demand – without unfair practices like blocked services or roaming charges,” she added.

Kroes’ rationale for the single telecoms market is that Europe’s telecoms and ICT sectors are not as competitive as they once were, as they are hampered by border checkpoints, with the rest of the world “racing ahead”.

Last summer, Kroes said a single telecoms market could provide a €110 billion annual boost to the EU economy.

More recently she outlined how the legislation would overhaul how mobile operators enter new markets by replacing 28 different registration requirements with a single point of authorisation and notification in the EU.

Mobile industry association the GSMA recently outlined the key elements it believes are essential in the creation of a single European telecoms market, with modernisation of telecoms regulation, an evolution of Europe’s antitrust regulation and a reform of spectrum assets cited as requirements.