The European Commission (EC) has adopted a proposed decision on the selection and authorisation of mobile satellite services (MSS). The aim of this proposal of 22 August 2007 is to allow the development throughout Europe of innovative services, such as mobile TV, broadband data and emergency communications, as well as improved coverage in the EU's remote areas.
The EC points out that existing international rules for satellite communications do not cover licensing; under current EU Telecom rules, the selection of operators is essentially national, leading to diverging national approaches to selection and authorisation. This risks impeding the growth of pan-European mobile satellite systems, while the proposal envisages that the 27 Member States of the EU follow the same selection and authorisation model.
If adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, this proposal will provide the basis for a single comparative selection procedure organised by the EC in cooperation with Member States. Once the proposed decision is approved, the EC will publish an open call for applications. Selected operators will be subsequently authorised nationally, based on the process in the new EU Decision. The target date for completing the EU selection process is early 2009.
The EC also reported that it will consider further improvements in this autumn's review of the EU telecom rules, including provisions to establish a generic mechanism to deal with similar future pan-European cases.
Further information:
- COM (2007) 408 final http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/document.cfm?action=display&doc_id=375
- Commission boost for mobile satellite services paves the way for EU-wide high speed data communications http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1243&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- MEMO/07/329-Selecting and authorising systems providing mobile satellite services in Europe: Frequently Asked Questions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/329
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Commission launches consultation on Mobile Satellite Services https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=471487
