Through today’s plenary vote on the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme, the European Parliament reaffirmed that the opening of additional spectrum for mobile services is an essential element in bridging the digital divide and meeting the broadband targets of the Digital Agenda.

GSMA and ETNO members welcome the support given by the European Parliament to the European Commission’s proposal for the harmonised allocation of the 800 MHz band to mobile services throughout Europe by January 2013.

ETNO and GSMA also applaud the European Parliament’s call for a more ambitious harmonisation effort in the medium term and an assessment by January 2015 of additional suitable frequency bands that will help in providing lower-cost broadband coverage in remote and rural areas as well as in indoor environments.

The operator community now calls on EU Member States to support this approach and work towards the adoption of the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme by the Council of Ministers before the end of the year.

The contributors to this joint statement are:

ETNO (the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association -  www.etno.eu) is the voice of the European telecommunications network operators with over a decade of experience in shaping EU telecoms policy. The association represents 40 companies located in 35 European countries.  They account for an aggregate annual turnover of more than € 250 billion, represent two thirds of total sector investment and employ over one million people across Europe. Contact: Victoria Gerus, Sr. Regulatory Affairs Manager (+3222271088/ gerus@etno.be). For press enquiries: Thierry Dieu, Acting Director/ Communications Manager (+3222271082/ dieu@etno.be)
 

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide.  Uniting nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators and more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, the GSMA is focused on innovating, incubating and creating new opportunities for its membership and driving the growth of the mobile industry.

For more information, please visit Mobile World Live, the online portal for the mobile communications industry, at www.mobileworldlive.com or the GSMA corporate website at http://www.gsmworld.com.

Contact: Martin Whitehead, Director, GSMA Europe (+32 2 792 05 50/ MWhitehead@gsm.org).  For press enquiries: Claire Cranton, Director, Media Relations (+44 7885 839427/ ccranton@gsm.org)