The EU Parliament, Council, and Commission this week agreed on a timeline for allocating 700-MHz spectrum for mobile services. In a statement on Wednesday, the EU said the frequencies must be assigned to mobile operators and made available for mobile broadband services by 30 June 2020 at the latest…
The EU Parliament, Council, and Commission this week agreed on a timeline for allocating 700-MHz spectrum for mobile services.
In a statement on Wednesday, the EU said the frequencies must be assigned to mobile operators and made available for mobile broadband services by 30 June 2020 at the latest. Member states are required to present their plans for allocating the spectrum no later than 30 June 2018.
This is the same timeframe put forward by the European Commission in February 2016, and backed by the Council in May.
"Better spectrum coordination is vital to provide higher quality internet to all Europeans. It paves the way for 5G, the next generation of communication networks, and the Internet of Things. We made a first step today with a joint approach to use the 700 MHz band in the EU," said Andrus Ansip, the Commission's vice president for the digital single market (DSM).
In addition, the EU said broadcasting will remain the primary use for the sub-700 MHz band, covering frequencies from 470 MHz-694 MHz, until 2030.
"This is balanced with the opportunity for each member state to take a more flexible approach to alternative spectrum use – such as advanced mobile multimedia services – according to different levels of digital terrestrial television (DTT) take-up," the Commission said.
The agreement is also the first deal made under the DSM strategy presented in May.
"A coordinated strategy for the whole UHF band asserts our European vision," said Günther Oettinger, commissioner for the digital economy and society. "It ensures that Europeans can access innovative services and creative content on the move from their tablets and smartphones, as well as on smart TV sets at home."
Source: http://www.totaltele.com/495792/EU-agrees-700-MHz-timeline