INTERNET : PARLIAMENT WANTS MORE RADIO SPECTRUM FOR MOBILE BROADBAND.

The European Parliament has paved the way to opening up radio frequencies to uses other than their present-day allocation, with its adoption by a large majority of a report by Swedish Conservative Gunnar Hokmark, on 11 May in Strasbourg. The main target of the measure is the 800 MHz bandwidth, the golden frequencies' being freed up with the switchover from analogue to digital TV. Like the Commission, Parliament would like to see these frequencies used "from 2013" for mobile internet traffic, particularly to offset access weaknesses in rural areas. The EP nevertheless passed an amendment that gives member states the right to request postponement until the end of 2015, or possibly beyond, if they encounter difficulties in cross-border coordination of frequencies with neighbouring third countries. Some countries fear problems of interference at the EU's external borders with Eastern countries and Russia, in particular.

MEPs also seek a post-2013 allocation of the 1.5 to 2.3 GHz bands to mobile. They consider that at least 1,200 MHz of spectrum should be allocated to mobile data traffic by 2015. Parliament also states that the Commission should monitor the development of technologies and efficient use of the spectrum to determine whether other bands (such as 700 MHz) should also be harmonised and opened up to new users and services.

"The idea is to know whether Europe will be number one or whether we will be content with being third or fourth," commented Hokmark. "In parallel, we encourage innovative technologies (femtocells, cognitive technologies) to respond qualitatively to demand for frequency," explained French Socialist Catherine Trautmann.

The Greens also backed the report. Philippe Lamberts (Germany) nevertheless warned against any risk of appropriation of the spectrum, considered by all as a "shared and rare resource". He called for an in-depth review of all spectrum players, including civil protection and military services, "because today's use is far from optimal". The Commission has proposed an inventory of spectrum resources in other sectors, such as transport and the environment. Lamberts also noted that "the consequences of these waves on citizens' health also deserves our attention, as stated in the report passed today".

According to the Commission, the spectrum represents 2-2.5% of Europe's gross domestic product, ie 250 billion according to its figures. Telecommunications are the source of 3.5 million jobs and contribute 140 billion to Europe's GDP.

The EU's telecommunications ministers reviewed the legislative proposal on 27 May.