TELECOMMUNICATIONS : SPECTRUM POLICY: PROGRAMME ADOPTED.

The 800 megahertz frequency band, which is used today by television broadcasters, will be opened up to telecoms operators for broadband wireless internet services as from 1 January 2013. The European Parliament adopted, on 15 February, andaby an overwhelming majority, a second-reading recommendation that approves the Council's common position on the draft decision establishing the first spectrum policy programme. The text approved is the compromise worked out on 24 October and adopted at first reading in Council on 13 December. The decision entered into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal.

The text makes provision for strategic planning and harmonisation of use of the spectrum, a rare resource that offers multiple opportunities for use in many fields (telecommunications, TV, maritime transport, health, environment and defence). The spectrum is made up of radio waves with frequencies of between 9 kHz and 3 000 GHz.

This programme "offers opportunities for European industry as well as new services and new growth", said the MEP who steered the text through Parliament, Gunnar Hokmark (EPP, Sweden). He added that "this is not just about telecommunications but also about giving fresh impetus to the EU economy" to help it boost its competitiveness in a global economy that now includes sizeable competitors like China and...