EU FINALLY AGREES FOR TECHNICAL RULES FOR 4G WIRELESS BROADBAND

The European Commission has adopted technical rules on how certain radio frequency bands should be opened up to advanced fourth generation, or 4G, communication devices such as smartphones and laptops, EU Commissioner for the digital agenda Neelie Kroes said Monday.More after the break...


“This decision [will] further stimulate high-speed broadband services and foster more competition,” Kroes said in an emailed statement.
The 27 EU member states have until 31 Dec., 2011 to implement the rules which set out technical parameters allowing for the co-existence of 4G–so-called wireless broadband–on the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands, alongside 2G GSM phones and 3G smartphones. Member states have already had to examine competition between mobile operators and address any distortions of competition, in accordance with the EU’s telecoms rules.