European Commission Adopts 3G Technology Report

The European Commission has adopted a report entitled "The Introduction of Third Generation Mobile Communications in the European Union: State of Play and the Way Forward."

A spokesperson for the EC told Newsbytes that the adoption of the report will allow the European Union's executive to take stock of where its member countries are with regard to 3G services.

The EC is not planning a hands-on guidance approach with 3G, as was the case with the early development of GSM (global system for mobile communications) in the late 1980s/early 1990s, but aims to pool the knowledge gained about 3G applications.

As with GSM technology a decade ago, few can truly predict what killer applications will arrive with 3G networks. Unlike GSM, however, 3G supports wireless multimedia, making the total range of applications for the wireless technology immense.

The EC says that the report emphasizes the need to use existing EU policies to create a favorable environment for future wireless digital services.

Firstly, the future regulatory framework for electronic communications and for radio spectrum policy has to be adopted and implemented rapidly.

Secondly, the EC says it will continue to work via existing EC policies such as research and the E-Europe Action Plan "towards an environment conducive for success of wireless digital applications and content."

Thirdly, the EC plans to open discussions with its member countries, as well as wireless operators and hardware vendors to explore how 3G services will roll out across Europe.

Erkki Liikanen, the European Commissioner responsible for enterprise and the information society, said that GSM was a European success and now Europe is building a bridge to 3G and beyond.

"As with any transition, there is some uncertainty, but the Commission recalls the great opportunities of this new generation of mobile digital services," he said.

"We have to remember that 3G is built on very strong foundations. In the foreseeable future it is the only viable, widely-supported common platform for all wireless applications," he added.

Liikanen sees 3G as offering users new quality of personalized and localized, user friendly services with global roaming capabilities.

"New content and new services are the key to the success of the new generation of mobile digital services," he said.