European Commission debates telecoms reform

The European Commission is promising to improve telecoms services and security across member states

A debate currently taking place in the European Commission promises to reform the telecoms environment, in particular to improve the services and security provisions available to end users.

As part of its telecoms reform activities the EC said today that it was seeking to tackle seven issues, ranging from providing broadband for all to improving data protection and security for European citizens.

The Commission is also seeking to reform the management of radio spectrums in its member states.

The idea is to facilitate and speed up the rollout of wireless services, especially in areas that have so far been denied high-speed connections.

As a result of this the Commission expects to see more people going online, and to save individuals and individual economies millions of euros every year.

Also included in the debate will be some discussion on member states' plans for turning off their analogue networks in favour of digital television.

The EC claimed that the end result of this will be new television channels and improved wireless services.

"The Commission expects additional economic benefits from better spectrum management in the EU to be in the region of €10bn a year, and consumers would be the main beneficiaries of this," said the EC.

Another issue high on the agenda is the plan to improve data protection. Here the EC hopes to limit the risk of personal data being compromised, but also to make consumers better aware of what can happen - and what they should do - if such a breach occurs.

"Consumer trust in the security of communication services and the protection of their personal data is essential," said the Commission.

"Telecoms operators should therefore be obliged to inform their customers without delay whenever their personal data has been compromised (for example, illegally accessed, copied or lost) as a result of a security problem."

The EC explained that, where customers are aware of the risks, they would be better able to manage and respond to incidents, adding that the negative publicity that such an announcement would generate would work as an incentive for firms to improve their security systems.

The Commission also plans an increased investment in new networks, but said that this would involve improving the industry's legislative environment.

By doing this it will seek to increase competition and investment in the telecoms market.

To further encourage investment and services in this area, the EC said that it would soon deliver fresh guidance to national regulators, such as Ofcom in the UK, in regard to so called next-generation networks.