GSM Europe calls for end to 'public policy paradox'
GSM Europe, the GSM Association's European interest group, has called on the EU's Telecoms Council, meeting on 27 March, to support the rollout of new mobile services, claiming that the sector is currently experiencing a 'public policy paradox'. In a statement, GSM Europe supports the EU Member States' recognition of the importance of electronic communications in achieving the Lisbon goal of making Europe the world's most competitive economy by 2010, and recognises that the mobile sector will best serve these goals if self-regulation and market innovation are encouraged. The statement also supports 'the EC's mission to encourage new mobile service and network rollout.' '[N]ational regulation could hamper the development of new service business models and [...] regulatory intervention should be kept to the minimum necessary level bearing in mind key principles of sustainability and proportionality,' continues the statement. 'The European mobile industry is fully committed to building sustainable economic development in Europe,' said Kaisu Karvala, Chair of GSM Europe. 'However, we are living in a public policy paradox. We are asked to focus on the speedy development of new services but at the same time are facing some profound and unexpected regulatory barriers that hamper the implementation of these new services and networks.' Ms Karvala claims that while regulation is being decreased in liberalised telecommunications sectors, this is not the case for the mobile sector. She believes that new communications legislation should improve the climate for investment through legal certainty and ensuring a consistent approach by Member States.