PRESS RELEASE - DIGITALEUROPE welcomes adoption of the UHF report by Industry and Culture committees in the European Parliament

DIGITALEUROPE welcomes today’s adoption of the European Parliament report, led by MEPs Patrizia Toia and Stefano Maullu, on the use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band.

In particular we welcome the flexibility it creates for new efficient spectrum usage in the sub-700 MHz band. We believe the approach taken in the report strikes a good balance for all parties including broadcasters. DIGITALEUROPE hopes that the downlink option in particular will prove appropriate to support this balance.

The EU’s efforts to find a common approach to the use of ultra-high frequencies (UHF) is an important first step in Europe’s policy on spectrum, and a key element in the broader telecoms reforms. Cooperation and coordination among the Member States in harmonizing frequency bands is crucial to the adoption of 5G in Europe, in this UHF band and beyond.

“We look forward to a swift harmonization of the spectrum range across the EU Member States as soon as possible – at the latest by 2020, and with minimal exceptions,” said John Higgins, Director General of DIGITALEUROPE.

In the immediate future we are happy to work further with the European Parliament to assist in the smooth adoption of the report when presented in the Plenary, during the following trialogue discussions with the Commission and Council, as well as in the broader discussions about the Telecoms Framework Review.