Mobile and wireless communications UMTS: strategy and policy orientations

In adopting the report by Mr Felipe CAMISON ASENSIO (PPE, E), the European Parliament welcomed the communication from the Commission, since the future development of mobile and wireless communications was the cornerstone of the construction of an information society geared to all citizens. While recognizing that the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) must be allowed to develop by giving free play to market forces, Parliament stressed the need for a European approach to regulation, standardization, frequency allocation, R&D, international cooperation and provision of universal service. The report called in particular on European industry, through ETSI, to come up with one single standard for UMTS in order to avoid competition between technically incompatible standards. Special attention must also be devoted to the allocation and efficient use of frequencies. Parliament stressed the need to consider how UMTS could help the elderly and the disabled. �