“Connected Continent” – Building a Telecoms Single Market
Faster connections, easier business, simpler life, ready for the future
On 11 September 2013, the “Connected Continent: Building a Telecoms Single Market” legislative package was launched by European Commission – its most ambitious plan in 26 years of telecoms market reform. The aim? To build a connected, competitive continent – enabling sustainable digital jobs and industries.
The fact is that as of today there is no telecoms company providing services across the whole EU, and the European Commission considers this as a failure of the internal market. Therefore the Commission wants to create a framework that enables both operators and customers to behave as if the European Union were a single telecommunications market, where services can be sold and bought regardless of the location and where crossing national borders would have no price effect for consumers.
So what are the headline benefits of this intiative to operators and customers?
Save
- Abolishing premiums for international phone calls within Europe
- EU-wide, roaming-free mobile plans
- Harmonising the way operators can rent network access to increase competition.
Simplify
- A single authorisation for operating instead of 28 authorisations
- A reduction in number of regulated markets
- Simpler rules to help companies invest more and expand across borders
Reform
- First-ever EU-wide protection of net neutrality
- New consumer rights, with all rights harmonized across Europe
- Coordinated spectrum assignment – more access to 4G & WiFi
In order to realise these goals, the legislative package pushes the telecoms sector completely into the internet age and removes barriers thus enabling the 28 distinct national telecoms markets to function as the desired ‘single market’.
So watch this space. Now it is time for the European Institutions to engage in this essential debate which at the end of the day is about deciding whether these proposals are sufficient to address EU future competitiveness or whether other arrangements should be sought to ensure that aim.
Spectrum Audit Services can help you prepare now by giving you impartial advice and helping your business make the most of the benefits this legislation will bring.
For more information contact us by phone on 0844 856 3301 or fill in your details on our online form and we’ll get right back to you.
