Technical assistance for telecommunications and postal affairs
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Telecommunications, Information Market, and Exploitation of Research, DG XIII/A, is planning to conclude service contracts with companies, experts and consultants capable of providing technical assistance resources in the fields of telecommunications and postal affairs. Contracts would be in the form of: - Part-time, extra-muros expert contracts; - Part-time, extra-muros consultancy contracts. In a separate call, the Commission is planning to conclude study contracts in the same areas. The purpose of these calls for expressions of interest is to compile, after a selection process, a file of potential contractors who would subsequently receive invitations to submit tenders concerning activities within their fields of competence. The work to be carried out would relate, among other things, to the following subjects: 1. Regulatory aspects of telecommunications: - Open access to networks (ONP): . Further development of ONP; . Interconnection and access charges; . Implementation of cost-accounting systems; . Multimedia networks and services; - Legal aspects: . General regulatory policy; . Data protection, privacy and consumer issues; . Directories and directory services; . Multimedia networks and services; . Infrastructure and interconnection issues; - Satellite communications: . Technical aspects; . Industrial/commercial aspects; . Regulatory aspects; - Mobile communications, frequencies and numbering: . Numbering policy: creation of a European numbering space; . Mobile communications policy: status of implementation; . Electromagnetic radiation hazards; . Frequency allocation mechanisms; . Economic value of frequencies; - Economic and financial aspects: . Adjustment issues, services liberalization; . Future policy on infrastructure; . Convergence between telecommunications and information sectors; . Network development and investment; . Market and strategic studies (traffic, pricing, market development and trade); 2. Telecommunications market: - Telecommunications legislation in Member States, EFTA countries and third countries; - Type-approval and telecommunications standardization policy: . Harmonization of analogue fixed and mobile approvals requirements; . Priorities in digital systems terminal standardization; . Supplementary services in private fixed and mobile corporate networks; . New public mobile pre-standardization issues; . Harmonization between type-approval policies and the voluntary declaration regime; 3. Trans-European telecommunications networks: - Global strategies; - Advanced networks: ISDN, IBC, etc.; - Generic services; 4. Relationship between telecommunications and broadcasting: - Action plan for the introduction of advanced television services: . Continuous monitoring of the uptake and impact of the action plan; . Strategic evaluation of the action plan's implementation; . Expert evaluation of broadcasters' service proposals for action plan support; . Promotional and consensus aspects; - Digital television broadcasting: . Technology and economics of digital TV, including service and operational aspects; . Consumer electronics marketing and manufacturing issues; . Frequency allocations; . Regulatory and legal aspects of digital TV; . Non-European developments; - HDTV: . Broadcast multimedia and interactive services; . Studio environment; . Content and programming issues; . Promotion and consensus aspects; - Non-broadcast digital video services; - Digital audio broadcasting: . Technology and economics of digital audio broadcasting, including service and operational aspects; . Consumer electronics manufacturing and marketing issues; . Frequency allocations; . Regulatory and legal aspects of digital audio broadcasting; . Non-European developments; . Content and programming issues; 5. Postal service: - General regulatory aspects; - Legal issues; - Economic and financial analysis; - Market and strategic studies; - Social relations aspects; - Networks and operational developments; - Quality of service issues; - Technical aspects; 6. International aspects of telecommunications and postal services: - Industrialized countries, developing countries and international organizations; - Central and East European countries; 7. Telecommunications and postal aspects of structural interventions: - Relationship between telecommunications and regional development; - Relationship between RTD and regional development; - Regulatory aspects of telecommunications. Expressions of interest should be sent to: European Commission Directorate-General for Telecommunications, Information Market, and Exploitation of Research DG XIII/A Mr. P. Picard 200 rue de la Loi (BU 9-5/173) B-1049 Brussels