”I am glad that the European Commission is now taking an important step to open up the 700 MHz band for wireless broadband. We now urgently need a political decision to ensure that the 700 MHz band is opened up for mobile broadband in all EU Member States”, said Gunnar Hökmark MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group, commenting on the announcement by the European Commissioner for Digital Agenda that the European Commission has approved a mandate to ask the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) to develop the technical conditions for wireless broadband in the 700 MHz band.
”The exponential increase of mobile Internet services will soon lead to capacity constraints in our mobile networks. Mobile Internet services are a crucial growth boost to the EU economy and Europe must therefore avoid hitting the capacity roof. A second digital dividend in the 700 MHz would be an important reform for growth, helping the EU to exit the economic crisis.”
”The 700 MHz band is already available for use by mobile Internet in large parts of the world. Other continents are pushing to make it available at global level under harmonised conditions. Europe cannot afford to wait but must act now to ensure that it can take the lead, instead of being left behind”, concluded Gunnar Hökmark.
For further information:
Gunnar HÖKMARK MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845822
Per Heister, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-496-645530
Notes to Editors:
The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 270 Members and 3 Croatian Observer Members.