The European Commission has announced plans to launch a public consultation on policy options for updating EU telecoms rules known as the ‘regulatory framework for electronic communications’. This includes fixed voice telephony, mobile communications and broadband, with the new rules aimed at being integrated into national law by 2010.

The move represents an attempt on the part of the Commission to step up competition throughout the single market, in areas where it is not so strong across the EU — such as broadband, a market experiencing considerable consolidation within the UK and estimated to be worth around C270 billion throughout the EU in 2005.

The Commission advocates moving towards a ‘common’ approach to allocating radio spectrum — critical for any application that relies on wireless communication. It proposes that certain bands of radio spectrum should be assigned according to market demand throughout Europe, creating a ‘single regime for spectrum management’ and opening up significant pan-European opportunities for innovative firms EU-wide.

Viviane Reding, EU commissioner for information society and media, believes the creation of a European spectrum agency is an idea that should be discussed, saying that ‘EU telecoms rules will remain in place only until we have achieved effective competition in all markets. We now need a more efficient, timely and consistent application of the EU rules.’

‘Our aim,’ says commissioner for competition Neelie Kroes, ‘is less, but more effective regulation.’ Fast growing companies in the sector could benefit from fewer restrictions and a more competitive market if all goes to plan.