European Union expands wireless spectrum access

The 900MHz access is part of a revamped EU law on mobile phone radio spectrum

The European Union is extending the portion of radio spectrum allocated to wireless operators.

The European Commission ruled on Monday to open the 900MHz section of the spectrum for development as a possible mobile broadband network. The move could open up the development of next-generation wireless broadband services.

The new spectrum access comes as part of a revamped law on mobile phone radio spectrum. Officials are seeking to update and modernise the GSM Directive of 1987, which set the parameters for use of the wireless spectrum by mobile phone carriers.

EU telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding said that updating the law should expand mobile broadband and spur new growth in the wireless sector.

"By updating the GSM Directive, the EU has paved the way for a new generation of services and technologies where Europe can be a world leader," she said.

"This reform will remove constraints on operators so that they can deploy new technologies in the GSM bands to develop high-speed mobile broadband services."

The EU hopes officially to open the new spectrum space by October.

The allocation of wireless broadband space has become a hot topic as countries around the world look to transition to new broadcast technologies and formats. A fierce debate was waged in the US over how best to allocate the wireless broadband space vacated by the digital television switchover.