Telecoms ministers across Europe have agreed to proposals to make the 700MHz band available to mobile broadband services by 2020, to progress the rollout of 4G and allow for the transition to 5G technology. The deal requires EU countries to set out strategies for the reassignment of the 700MHz band to wireless broadband by June 2018. The handover is expected to take four years. In a joint statement, telecoms ministers, including those from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Sweden, said they would work together on “concrete measures” that will help ensure “the continued growth in Europe’s digital Chief regulatory officer for GSMA, John Giusti, highlighted difficulties with the rollout of the 800MHz band in Europe and emphasised the need for a realistic timetable. The proposals now need approval from the European Parliament to become law.
Telecoms ministers across Europe have agreed to proposals to make the 700MHz band available to mobile broadband services by 2020, to progress the rollout of 4G and allow for the transition to 5G technology. The deal requires EU countries to set out strategies for the reassignment of the 700MHz band to wireless broadband by June 2018. The handover is expected to take four years. The news was welcomed by GSMA, the lobby group representing BT, Three, TalkTalk, and Vodafone in the UK. Chief regulatory officer for GSMA, John Giusti, highlighted difficulties with the rollout of the 800MHz band in Europe and emphasised the need for a realistic timetable. The proposals now need approval from the European Parliament to become law.