Kroes pushes to free radio spectrum for broadband

Neelie Kroes welcomes moves towards establishing Radio Spectrum Policy Programme

The EU commissioner in charge of its digital agenda is stepping up pressure on the European Parliament and Council of Ministers to speed up progress, freeing radio spectrum for fast and ultra-fast broadband networks.

Vice president Neelie Kroes welcomed parliament's initial moves towards a formal decision establishing a Radio Spectrum Policy Programme, which she said needs to be implemented urgently. "This would lead to a more co-ordinated and efficient use of spectrum in the EU, promoting the development of innovative technologies and services," she said.

Brussels believes it is "essential to deliver the targets of basic broadband for all by 2013 and fast broadband for all by 2020", and these are the key goals of Kroes' digital agenda.

She said in a statement: "The Radio Spectrum Policy Programme is essential for ensuring the crucial 'wireless' element necessary to offer high-speed broadband access to everyone in Europe.

"I now look forward to a speedy and constructive discussion between parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers, with a view to definitive adoption of the proposal by the end of 2011."

She wants a five-year policy programme to "significantly contribute to bringing fast broadband connections to people in remote areas and to make innovative services available across Europe".

The commission wants member states to complete the process of giving licences to operators to use spectrum bands harmonised at EU level - the 900/1800MHz bands, the 2.5GHz band and the 3.4-3.8GHz band - by the end of next year [2012] and open up 800MHz (part of the digital dividend from the move from analogue to digital broadcasting) by the start of 2013, with derogations only in exceptional circumstances.

Meanwhile, UK culture secretary Jeremy Hunt claimed nine out of 10 homes and businesses should be able to access superfast broadband by 2015, and reiterated the fact that £530m has been set aside by the government to help pay for it.

He spelled out this ambition at a Race Online 2012 event yesterday. The funding is to extend superfast broadband from two-thirds of the country expected to receive it commercially, to the one-third where a service would not otherwise be viable.