European Commission (EC) plans for use of spectrum freed by digit...

of the 790-862 MHz band to support the emergence of new wireless services such as 3G and 4G mobile phone services with video streaming. A coordinated approach could boost Europe’s economy by as much as $74 billion over 15 years, the EC said. The proposal also asks countries to switch off analog services by Jan. 1, 2012, and to use the digital dividend spectrum in a way that increases competition. The EC said it will harmonize technical conditions for using the band and promised to address, with the European Parliament and Council, strategic goals such as the pace of opening the spectrum to uses other than high-power broadcasting, arriving at a common European position in negotiations with neighboring countries on the digital dividend, and the possibility of agreement on future EU targets for using more efficient technologies in the band. Talks with lawmakers and governments will start in the first half of 2010, the EC said. But Cable Europe said laboratory testing has uncovered potential interference with consumer electronics devices such as TVs, cable broadband modems, set- top boxes, audio equipment used in live performances, personal video recorders, in-house wiring and gaming consoles. The problem could affect 115 million TV viewers, nearly a quarter of total EU population, it said. The organization said it shared the data on potential interference with EU and national authorities and asked them to investigate problems for TV viewers and broadband users before allocating and auctioning the spectrum. Cable Europe is “calling for careful national attention to this newly discovered interference so that January 1st 2012 will be a cause for celebration rather than frustration,” said Managing Director Caroline Van Weede. The European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) welcomed the EC’s approach, but said the competitive consequences of allocating digital dividend spectrum must be addressed. If allocation is allowed to favor one or two dominant players, competition and consumers will suffer, said ECTA Chairman Innocenzo Genna. He pointed to developments in Germany, where plans to allocate and sell spectrum in the 790-862 MHz band, and the controversial approach by regulators to the 900 MHz band, “clearly discriminate” against two small mobile operators.