Global European Network in telecommunications cleared by Commission
The Commission's Directorate-General responsible for competition (DG IV) has given clearance to the Global European Network (GEN) agreement between Europe's major telecommunications operators. This agreement would provide high quality digital links between Member States. In clearing the agreement, the Commission was able to secure important amendments which will ensure fair competition between the companies involved and maintain access for third parties on the same conditions as signatories. While welcoming the benefits for European telecoms users, and the boost to the creation of trans-European telecommunications networks which implementation of the agreement will bring, the Commission wants to ensure that operators do not abuse their dominant positions. The GEN agreement was signed by British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, France Télécom, Telecom Italia and Telefonica de Espana. These operators will establish 2Mbit/s fibre optic links between each others' nodes, using PDH (plesiosynchronous digital hierarchy) technology. The links established will improve the speed of circuit provision, network availability and quality and reliability of service.