EU opens up new mobile airwaves

July 29, 2017

The EU telecoms ministers announced on Monday that they approved new legislation that will open 900MHz radio frequencies to 3G mobile internet services, as well as to GSM technologies that are used widely by mobile phone service providers.

The legislation replaces an old 1987 law that allowed 900Mz frequencies only to be allocated to GSM technology.

The result of the new legislation is to allow faster internet speeds across Europe while also allowing for GSM’s continued use.

It is expected to result in stiffer competition among the EU telecoms market and allow for the faster spread of mobile broadband services across the country according to the European Commission.

The European Commission also stated that the new directive will allow for savings of about 1.6 billion Euros for the telecoms industry.

Viviane Reding, the EU Telecoms Commissioner, stated that the EU updated the directive in order to allow for Europe to become a leader in the new mobile internet generation of technology.

The legislation will take effect in October.

Currently according to the telecoms regulator in the UK, mobile coverage is acceptable throughout most of Britain but is still not up to par in the UK’s rural areas.