EU Blasts European Governments For Missing 4G Targets

The European Commission has “reluctantly” granted nine EU member states more time to free up 800MHz spectrum to be used for 4G networks, but has warned Europeans are suffering because of the slow rate of progress.

Half of the EU’s member states have requested to postpone the use of 800MHz due to “exceptional reasons”, having already missed a pre-agreed deadline of 1 January 2013 to make it available.

The EC agreed to postponements for Spain, Cyprus, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Austria, Poland, Romania and Finland but rejected requests from Slovakia and Slovenia and said it needed more time to evaluate Greece, Latvia and the Czech Republic.

European 4G spectrum

Belgium and Estonia are behind schedule but have not requested additional time, while Bulgaria will continue to use the bandwidth for the time being because it is used for security and defence purposes.

European Commission vice president Neelie Kroes said the difficulties in freeing up the spectrum highlight the need for a more coordinated reassignment programme across the EC.

“We have agreed to temporary and limited 800MHz derogations for nine countries. This is a pragmatic and final concession,” she warned. “Every delay in releasing spectrum hurts our economy and frustrates citizens. That is why spectrum reform will be a centrepiece of the Commission’s September proposal for a telecoms single market.”

Kroes added it was European citizens who were harmed by the delay, while phone manufacturers leave out certain radio chips because not enough countries have licensed the same spectrum in time.

Just 11 countries have so far freed up the 800MHz band for LTE services – Denmark, Germany, Ireland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the UK.

The UK completed its auction of 4G spectrum earlier this year, with all four major UK operators winning 800MHz airwaves, while 2.6GHz bandwidth was also snapped up.

EE, the UK’s only current 4G operator, uses the 1800MHz band, but services on 800MHz are due to go live later this year.

What do you know about UK mobile operators? Find out with our quiz!