TELECOMMUNICATIONS : EU TO COORDINATE USE OF DIGITAL DIVIDEND'.

The European Commission and the 27 national radio frequency regulators in the EU, meeting in the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG), are moving forward together on the development of a European digital dividend' policy. The goal is to use the frequencies freed up by the switchover from analogue to digital TV, in principle from 2012 throughout the EU, for other technologies, in particular mobile high-speed internet.

"We will propose a recommendation next autumn with common guidelines on how the switchover has to take place by 2012 in the 27 member states," said Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding, on 7 April in Brussels.

The freeing-up of these broadcasting frequencies sought by the Commission has already sparked an outcry by TV broadcasters (especially public) in the context of the revision under way on EU telecoms rules (telecoms package). The broadcasters want to keep them to develop high-definition services, which require a lot of frequencies. Some member states, eg Italy, are reluctant to engage in a European debate on the digital dividend. However, the telecoms package, expected to be concluded in 2010, will push it into the European realm with the collaboration of the European Parliament.

If the states fail to coordinate on use of the dividend, there is a danger of creating interference. "The spectrum knows no borders. Imagine the disaster if in one country the digital dividend is set aside for a given use, while in another it is reserved for a different use and a third country declares that it has no digital dividend. This would result in fragmentation and chaos," warned the commissioner.

The Commission promises "an economic potential of 150 to 200 billion". "This is not about finding a common solution for all, but about the member states going in the same direction and this taking place in a coordinated way," concluded the commissioner.

The RSPG must issue a unanimous opinion, on 13 May. "We are in the process of identifying the band that could potentially be freed up for other uses. It will probably be the highest part of the band, 790-862 MHz," explained Daniel Pataki, current chairman of the RSPG. In this procedure, the principles of technological neutrality (no given technology) and service neutrality (all services) should be maintained, he added.

The Commission will submit a draft recommendation for public consultation in July.

The international association of mobile operators (GSMA) has requested 100 megahertz for services other than television, notably wireless high-speed internet. The national regulators are expected to aim a bit lower for the EU, around 72 megahertz.