BRUSSELS, 13 December 2011 – GSMA and ETNO welcome today’s adoption by the EU’s Council of Telecoms Ministers of the first Radio Spectrum Policy Programme for 2012-2015 (RSPP). The compromise text reached in trialogue between the Polish Presidency, the European Parliament and the European Commission sets clear policy orientations on the use of radio spectrum in Europe, which will help reap the benefits of the Digital Agenda and boost EU competitiveness.

The proposal to harmonise the release of the 800 MHz band (the Digital Dividend) for electronic communications services by 1 January 2013 across the EU will help to provide broadband and social inclusion in all European Member States and stimulate economic growth and competitiveness within the EU.

Luigi Gambardella, ETNO Executive Board Chair says: “The adoption of the first EU Radio Spectrum Policy Programme is a very important step forward for Europe. Opening up additional spectrum will be essential to respond to rapidly increasing data traffic and also to deliver high speed broadband networks at lower costs in remote and rural areas. The adoption today of the RSPP is therefore a vital contribution to the achievement of the Digital Agenda objectives.”

“Today’s agreement is an important signal to the telecoms industry as we continue to invest in mobile broadband and help deliver on the promise of the Digital Agenda”, said Martin Whitehead, Director of GSMA Europe. “We now call on EU Member States and the European Commission to work to ensure that the authorisation process is completed by 1 January 2013 as any delays would risk compromising Europe’s leadership in this sector”.

ETNO and GSMA are pleased to note that the RSPP also includes more harmonisation efforts in the medium term and that the European Commission will assess by January 2015 the need for additional frequency bands suitable for electronic communication services. This could provide further help in providing lower-cost broadband coverage in remote and rural areas, as well as in indoor environments.

ETNO and GSMA now call on the European Commission and the Member States to work towards a swift implementation of the programme.

The contributors to this joint statement are:

ETNO

ETNO’s 40 member companies and 10 observers from Europe and beyond represent a significant part of total ICT activity in Europe. They account for an aggregate annual turnover of more than €600 billion and employ over 1.6 million people. ETNO companies are the main drivers of broadband and are committed to its continual growth in Europe. For more information, please visit www.etno.eu or contact: Thierry Dieu, ETNO Acting Director Tel: (32-2) 219 32 42 e-mail: dieu@etno.be

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning more than 220 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organisations. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as the Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Congress.

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 50/2). For press enquiries: Claire Cranton, Director, Media Relations (+44 7885 839427/ ccranton@gsm.org)