EU telecoms reform poses ‘single market’

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Viviane Reding, the EU telecoms commissioner, said the ETMA would increase cohesion in the market. (Getty Images)

The European Union (EU) has proposed a shake up of the telecoms sector that would effectively create a single telecoms market in the authority.

The proposals would give the newly proposed European Telecom Market Authority (ETMA) the powers to usurp the decisions of national regulators, although the scheme will have to agreed upon by the EU's 27 member states.

"For me it is clear that the most effective and least bureaucratic way to achieve a real level playing field for telecom operators across the EU would be to replace the present game of ‘ping pong' between national regulators and the European Commission by an independent European telecom authority that would work together with national regulators in a system similar to the European System of Central Banks," said European telecom commissioner Viviane Reding.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, claims the measures will open the market to smaller telco players and encourage largescale investment in the latest wireless telecoms technologies.

The proposals will be debated in the European Parliament and by member state governments and must be incorporated into national law before taking effect. The new framework is expected to be in place from 2010 onwards.

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