Guidelines for the development of the EURO-ISDN as a trans-European network
A European Parliament and Council Decision on a set of guidelines for the development of the EURO-ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) as a trans-European network was adopted on 9 November 1995 and published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 24 November 1995. The Decision is aimed at ensuring the harmonized introduction of ISDN services including provision for interconnectivity and interoperability between national networks. The objectives set out by the Decision as regards the development of ISDN as a trans-European network, and an element of the infrastructure of the "universal service", are as follows: - The development of a range of services based on the EURO-ISDN, with account also being taken of the future introduction of a European broadband communications network; - Availability of a full geographical coverage by EURO-ISDN in all Member States having regard to market needs, in particular to facilitate access of the island, land-locked and peripheral regions by means of EURO-ISDN. The priorities for achieving these objectives shall be as follows: - To promote the use of EURO-ISDN, in particular by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as by public organizations; - To contribute to the rapid availability of affordable testing equipment; - To promote access to less expensive terminal equipment and application software. The Decision calls on Member States to encourage public network operators to put in place the infrastructure required for the development of EURO-ISDN. It also strongly encourages the participation of third countries which are either members of the EEA or which have signed an Association Agreement with the Community. The development of EURO-ISDN as a trans-European network shall be carried out in the form of projects of common interest in the following areas: - Analysis of obstacles to the deployment of EURO-ISDN and the means used to overcome them; - Promotion of the end-to-end interoperability of telematic services and the availability of EURO-ISDN terminals; - Analysis and promotion of migration of existing public and private sector applications to EURO-ISDN and promotion of new applications; - Promotion of access to EURO-ISDN terminal; - One-stop shopping.