Mobile and wireless communications UMTS: strategy and policy orientations

OBJECTIVE: to stimulate debate concerning the future of the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System). SUBSTANCE: the document presents an overview of developments in the mobile and wireless communications market within the European Community since the 1994 Green Paper on mobile and personal communications was published. It considered, in particular, the choices and challenges presented by the next generation of digital mobile systems, referred to as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), which would allow the use of multi-media applications through mobile technologies. The Commission had identified several fields where it is important to have a coordinated approach at European level, including regulation, standardization, frequency allocation, R&D efforts and international cooperation. The objective was to create a framework which led to greater choice, improved quality and lower prices for all users of mobile services, while ensuring full competition within an environment which fostered the competitiveness that the sector had achieved so far. The Commission hopes for a debate on this issue and states that comments from interested parties should be submitted before 15 July 1997. �