New telecoms regulator to monitor EU’s airwaves
By Jacqueline Theodoulou in Strasbourg, 10.07.2008
THE
EUROPEAN Parliament has approved a directive introducing a new European body
of national telecommunications regulators to ensure radio spectrum use is
co-ordinated and harmonised across the EU. The purpose of the package is to
improve telecommunications, ensure better prices and quality for the
consumer, while reinforcing fair competition.The directive, which was
discussed and adopted by the Industry Committee on Monday, also aims to help
EU citizens benefit from new electronic services like mobile broadband
Internet access, as well as calling for incentives to invest in new
infrastructure, including “next generation” access networks.The Industry
Committee also adopted a report by Spanish MEP Pilar del Castillo, member of
the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats,
which proposes the introduction of a Body of European Regulators in
Telecommunications (BERT). This will be composed of the 27 national
regulatory authorities, as an alternative to the European Electronic
Communications Market Authority (EECMA) advocated by the Commission.MEPs
proposed a new ‘co-regulation’ procedure, meaning that national regulatory
authorities will consult the European Commission and BERT before making
regulatory decisions. The EC will be able to request an amendment of draft
measures made by national regulatory authorities, provided BERT considers
the measure inappropriate or ineffective.In order to promote fair
competition, a national regulator may, as an “exceptional measure”, require
telecoms operators to separate their network services from their content
ones – known as functional separation” – by creating a separate business
unit to run the network services. This unit will in turn provide all network
user firms with access products and services on equal terms.“However, the
national regulator may apply this remedy only if both the Commission and
BERT confirm that no other measure has achieved effective competition and
that, without the remedy, there is little prospect of future
infrastructure-based competition,” the EP report explained.MEPs are also
promoting “next generation access networks”, using fibre optics, by
advocating “appropriate incentives for investments in new high-speed
networks that will support innovation in content-rich Internet services and
strengthen European international competitiveness”.In accordance to the
Directive, National Regulators will be required to promote market-driven
investment and innovation in new and enhanced infrastructures. For example,
encouraging investment sharing and ensuring appropriate risk-sharing between
the investor and firms wanting access to new facilities.In an amendment
adopted by the Committee on Monday, one third of BERT should be funded by
the EU and two thirds by direct contributions from national regulatory
authorities. However, the rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs agreed to review
the funding procedures ahead of the plenary vote.According to a report
released by the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg, “Spectrum owned by
Member States is needed for many wireless services, from broadcasting and
mobile TV through mobile communications and broadband Internet to new
electronic services such as e-government or e-health”. A report by member of
the EPs Socialist Group Catherine Trautmann, to optimise frequency use and
avoid harmful interference among services, member states must co-operate
with each other and the European Commission in the strategic planning,
co-ordination and harmonisation of radio spectrum use.The electronic
communications framework directive, as amended by the Industry Committee,
asks the Commission to table a legislative proposal to establish a “radio
spectrum action plan”.Furthermore, the Committee calls for a more coherent
and integrated approach to allocating ‘digital dividend’ frequencies freed
up by the switchover from analogue to digital TV, to be completed by
2012.The draft directive, as it has been amended, will require member states
to ensure that any technology or any service can use frequency available for
electronic communications services, in line with national frequency
allocation plans and with the International Telecommunication Union’s Radio
Regulations.MEPs reasoned, “Measures requiring that a service be supplied in
a specific frequency band would have to be justified by reference to general
interest aims such as ensuring safety of life, promoting social, regional or
territorial cohesion, avoiding inefficient use of radio frequencies, or
promoting cultural and media aims such as cultural and linguistic diversity
and media pluralism.
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CYPRUS POST
PRINTED MATTER
| GR. | S.A.L. | AIR MAIL | AIR MAIL |
| ZONE "A" | ZONE "B" | ||
| EURO | EURO | EURO | |
|
20 |
0.34 | 0.51 | 0.68 |
|
50 |
0.34 | 0.85 | 1.28 |
| 100 | 0.68 | 1.71 | 2.56 |
| 150 | 1.03 | 2.56 | 3.42 |
| 200 | 1.37 | 3.42 | 4.27 |
| 250 | 1.71 | 4.27 | 5.13 |
| 300 | 2.05 | 5.13 | 6.83 |
|
350 |
2.39 | 5.13 | 6.83 |
| 400 | 2.73 | 6.83 | 10 |