2008 General Assembly of European Telecoms Operators’ Association

ETNO members call on EU policy makers for a strategy to reassure investors in telecoms sector

Venice, Italy – Leading European telecoms operators - gathered for the annual general assembly of ETNO hosted in Venice by Telecom Italia – called today on EU Telecoms Ministers for a clear strategy to boost risky investment in high speed broadband networks and put the telecoms sector back in the driving seat of competitiveness and growth. ETNO members cautioned policy makers against ever new extensive and intrusive measures which risk further affecting telecoms operators’ revenues and their ability to invest.

In 2007 , revenue in the telecoms sector grew by only 1.6% against 2.3% in 2006. In the same vein, investment has increased by 1.4% against 4.1% in 2006, representing the lowest investment growth since 2003. In the five main EU markets investments have dropped by 3.8%. The investment reduction is particularly significant in the mobile sector (- 9% in these markets).