Brussels, 9 December 2010: Europe’s leading fixed and mobile telecommunications operators welcome the European Union’s efforts to maximise the potential of radio spectrum for the economy and society as a whole. The trade associations ECTA, ETNO and GSMA Europe urge the European Parliament and the Council to swiftly adopt the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP) Decision.

The Commission-proposed Decision establishing a strategic five-year plan on radio spectrum, that will be considered by the European Parliament and Council in the coming months, represents a unique opportunity to develop a long-term EU strategy on spectrum. Such a strategic planning tool will increase certainty over spectrum availability for all stakeholders across the EU creating a single market for high-speed mobile broadband and enhancing Europe’s global competitiveness.

Spectrum policy is one of the key instruments for meeting the Digital Agenda’s broadband coverage and penetration targets. As highlighted by the Digital Agenda communication, providing all Europeans with high-speed broadband access will require a mix of technologies and platforms, driven by market needs and technical and commercial feasibility. In rural and remote areas in particular, wireless and mobile broadband networks will play a fundamental role in bridging the ‘digital divide’.

In this context, ECTA, ETNO and GSMA Europe welcome the proposed RSPP, which aims to promptly make available by 2013 the ‘digital dividend’ band for new and innovative mobile services spurring economic growth and new jobs. We also support the proposal to investigate additional spectrum availability for mobile broadband. Only a long term spectrum strategy identifying further spectrum for future mobile and wireless uses will allow us to meet the rapidly increasing consumer and business demand for mobile broadband services and the ambitious Digital Agenda targets.

The signatories to this joint statement are:

	ECTA (the European Competitive Telecommunications Association - www.ectaportal.com) is the pan-European pro-competitive trade association that represents more than 100 of the leading challenger telecoms operators across Europe. For over a decade, ECTA has been supporting the regulatory and commercial interests of telecoms operators, ISPs & equipment manufacturers in pursuit of a fair regulatory environment that allows all electronic communications providers to compete on level terms. Our members have been the leading innovators in Internet services, broadband, business communications, entertainment and mobile. Contact: Erzsebet Fitori, Director Regulatory Affairs (+32 2 227 11 56/ efitori@ectaportal.com). For press enquiries, please contact: Vicky Hanley-Emilsson (+32 2 227 11 79/ vhanley-emilsson@ectaportal.com)
	ETNO (the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association - www.etno.eu) is the voice of the European  telecommunications network operators with over a decade of experience in shaping EU telecoms policy. The association represents 41 companies located in 35 European countries. They account for an aggregate annual turnover of more than 250 billion Euros and employ up to one million people across Europe. Contact: Victoria Gerus, Regulatory Affairs Manager (+3222193242/ Gerus@etno.be). For press enquiries, contact: Thierry Dieu, Communications Manager (+ 3222193242/ dieu@etno.be).
	The GSMA represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry. Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organisations. The GSMA is focused on innovating, incubating and creating new opportunities for its membership, all with the end goal of driving the growth of the mobile communications industry. For more information on GSMA, please visit: Mobile World Live, the new online portal for the mobile communications industry, at www.mobileworldlive.com, GSMA corporate website at www.gsmworld.com, GSMA Europe www.gsmeurope.org. Contact: Martin Whitehead, Director, GSMA Europe (+32 2 792 05 50/ MWhitehead@gsm.org. For press enquiries: Claire Cranton, Director, Media Relations (+44 7885 839427/ ccranton@gsm.org).