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Digital Single Market Strategy by EUbusiness — last modified 25 March 2015, 20:04 CET

The European Commission's College of Commissioners on 25 March had a first discussion on the Digital Single Market Strategy due in May. It set out the main areas the Commission will focus its work on with the aim of triggering real changes for consumers and businesses alike.

Telecoms: Recommendation on relevant markets by EUbusiness — last modified 09 October 2014, 14:37 CET

The European Commission – in agreement with Member States - decided on 9 October that two telecom markets should no longer be subject to regulation in Europe, and that two more should be redefined to reflect market and technology developments. The rules take effect immediately.

Commission report on radio spectrum and UHF band by EUbusiness — last modified 04 September 2014, 21:41 CET

Europe's broadcasting and wireless broadband sectors are seen as essential to Europe's digital future and economic prosperity, and they are both hungry users of radio frequencies. On 1 September, former Commissioner Pascal Lamy presented the European Commission with a report on how to use the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) spectrum (the 700 Megahertz (MHz) band) most effectively in the coming decades. The UHF band represents "prime real estate" in terms of use, capacity and reach. Commissioner Neelie Kroes also announced new rules on the harmonisation of spectrum bands used by wireless microphones, also in the UHF band, as well as the first report of an inventory showing how EU Member States are using their radio frequencies today and what to focus on tomorrow. Combined, all three elements should help to secure the long-term future for broadband, broadcast and other wireless services in Europe.

GALILEO, the EU's satellite navigation programme by EUbusiness — last modified 26 August 2014, 17:18 CET

Galileo, the EU's satellite navigation programme, on 21 August sent two more satellites into space, reaching a total number of 6 satellites in orbit. The lift-off took place at the European spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana. The launch marked another milestone for Galileo as a step towards a fully-fledged European-owned satellite navigation system. These two satellites are the first of a new series which is fully owned by the EU. With the addition of a new wave of such satellites to the existing array, the availability and coverage of the Galileo signal is expected to gradually improve and bring us a step closer to the fully operational phase of the programme. The satellites launched, Doresa and Milena, were named by two schoolchildren who won an EU wide drawing competition to name them.

Connected Communities by EUbusiness — last modified 10 July 2014, 16:04 CET

The European Commission launched on 10 July launches the "Connected Communities" initiative – an umbrella for several systems designed to connect towns, cities, local broadband partnerships and operators to the advice they need to access finance and develop tailored business models for bringing fast broadband to their community.

Mobile data roaming price caps from 1 July by EUbusiness — last modified 24 June 2014, 18:20 CET

From 1 July 2014, the EU will cut the price caps for data downloads by more than half: down from 45 cents per megabyte to 20c/MB. It will become even cheaper to use maps, watch videos, check mails and update social networks while travelling across the EU.

5G mobile technology deal with South Korea by EUbusiness — last modified 19 June 2014, 21:42 CET

The agreement signed in Seoul on 16 June is a milestone in the global race to develop 5G mobile technologies. The EU and South Korea have agreed to work towards a global definition of 5G and to cooperate in 5G research. They also agreed on the need for harmonized radio spectrum to ensure global interoperability and on the preparation of global standards for 5G.

Commercial access to Earth observation data: new EU proposal by EUbusiness — last modified 17 June 2014, 19:11 CET

Businesses and research institutions will soon have more reliable access to commercial earth observation satellite data, according to a proposal presented by the European Commission in Brussels on 17 June.

Taxation of the Digital Economy - final report by EUbusiness — last modified 28 May 2014, 19:32 CET

The European Commission has today received the final report of the High-level Expert Group on Taxation of the Digital Economy. This independent group was asked to examine key issues related to taxing the digital economy in the EU, and to present their ideas on the best approach to various challenges and opportunities in this field. It was completed after 5 months work by the Group, which consisted of 6 other experts from across Europe with different expertise relevant to this area.

Broadband state aid rules explained - handbook for decision-makers by EUbusiness — last modified 08 May 2014, 19:19 CET

The European Commission has published new guidance to help governments invest in broadband. The handbook is useful for any public authority investing in broadband or looking at co-funding projects with EU structural and investment funds (ESIF).

The Data Retention Directive by EUbusiness — last modified 08 April 2014, 19:07 CET

The Data Retention Directive was adopted in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005 as there was a sense of urgency to harmonise the European efforts to investigate and prosecute the most serious crimes.

Roaming: 300 million extra customers for telecoms companies when roaming charges end: survey by EUbusiness — last modified 17 February 2014, 11:55 CET

94% of Europeans who travel outside their home country limit their use of services like Facebook, because of mobile roaming charges, according to a new survey of 28,000 EU citizens. The European Commission calculates that telecoms companies are missing out on a market of around 300 million phone users because of current pricing strategies, with negative effects for other businesses such as app makers.

Sizing up Europe's app economy by EUbusiness — last modified 13 February 2014, 17:23 CET

The EU's app sector has gone from zero to digital superhero in less than five years. By 2018 it could employ 4.8 million people and contribute €63 billion to the EU economy according to a report presented in Brussels today. The study, carried out by GIGAOM and NUI Galway for the European Commission, shows that Europe's app developers are up to the challenge of taking the global lead. Currently, EU and North American developers generate the same levels (42% each) of app revenues in crucial EU and US markets. Although the future is bright, developers have raised concerns about the skills gap, connectivity and fragmentation which could put the app boom at risk.

Portable Electronic Devices by EUbusiness — last modified 09 December 2013, 17:51 CET

Passengers will be able to keep their mobile phones switched on in airplane mode during flights, under new guidance published today by the EU's Aviation Safety Agency.

'Connected Continent' telecoms single market package by EUbusiness — last modified 11 September 2013, 20:17 CET

The European Commission has adopted its most ambitious plan in 26 years of telecoms market reform. Launched by Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in his 2013 State of the Union speech, the “Connected Continent” legislative package, when adopted, will reduce consumer charges, simplify red tape faced by companies, and bring a range of new rights for both users and service providers, so that Europe can once again be a global digital leader.

Samsung - Enforcement of ETSI standards essential patents (SEPs) by EUbusiness — last modified 21 December 2012, 23:43 CET

The European Commission has informed Samsung of its preliminary view that Samsung's seeking of injunctions against Apple in various EU Member States on the basis of its mobile phone standard-essential patents ("SEPs") amounts to an abuse of a dominant position prohibited by EU antitrust rules. While recourse to injunctions is a possible remedy for patent infringements, such conduct may be abusive where SEPs are concerned and the potential licensee is willing to negotiate a licence on Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (so-called "FRAND") terms. The sending of a Statement of Objections does not prejudge the final outcome of the investigation.

Digital Agenda Review - new digital priorities for 2013-2014 by EUbusiness — last modified 19 December 2012, 00:20 CET

The European Commission has adopted seven new priorities for the digital economy and society. The digital economy is growing at seven times the rate of the rest of the economy, but the Commission says this potential is currently held back by a patchy pan-European policy framework. Today's priorities follow a comprehensive policy review and place new emphasis on the most transformative elements of the original 2010 Digital Agenda for Europe.

Harmonisation of radio frequency bands - boost for 4G by EUbusiness — last modified 07 November 2012, 13:32 CET

The European Commission is add another 120 MHz to the radio spectrum portfolio for 4G technologies, such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), around the 2 GHz band. This band is currently solely used for UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) wireless communications, known as 3G networks.

Galileo Satellite Navigation Agency now based in Prague by EUbusiness — last modified 06 September 2012, 17:21 CET

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) inaugurated its new premises in Prague on 6 September. Previously headquartered provisionally in Brussels, the GSA moved its seat to Prague over this summer, as had been agreed by the EU Heads of State and Government on 10 December 2010.

Promoting the shared use of radio spectrum resources in the internal market by EUbusiness — last modified 04 September 2012, 23:36 CET

In its Communication on "Promoting the shared use of radio spectrum resources in the internal market", published on 3 September, the European Commission pushes and supports EU Member States to move to an enhanced innovation-friendly internal market framework for the shared use of spectrum. Meeting the growing spectrum needs resulting from the exponential growth in wireless data traffic and the increasing importance of wireless connectivity in the economy, is limited by the absence of vacant spectrum. However, says the Commission, the radio spectrum is a unique resource that can be re-used more efficiently with advances in technologies. This makes additional spectrum resources available and lowers the spectrum access hurdles for new users. To cope with the demand and to attract investments into new technologies, the EU needs a supportive regulatory framework that enables legally binding spectrum sharing contracts between users to encourage wireless innovation in the internal market.