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(2004/C 33 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1155/03

by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) and Giuseppe Gargani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject:   Telephone masts and the environment

The development of the third generation mobile communications market has fallen behind schedule, not least because of the cost of creating infrastructures and public concerns over environment and health issues relating to the proliferation of masts. Nevertheless, it is in the interests both of industry, with a view to creating jobs, and of end users for these services to be developed swiftly.

The European Parliament and the Council recently adopted Directives 2002/19/EC (1), 2002/20/EC (2), 2002/21/EC (3) and 2002/22/EC (4), which inter alia provide for the Member States to take action where necessary to minimise the impact of the development of the electronic communications market on the environment and landscape.

In its report COM(2002) 695, the Commission states that in principle it is in favour of sharing facilities such as masts in order to speed up the marketing of broadband mobile services in a manner compatible with the application of competition rules.

It is technologically possible to establish networks of masts in urban areas that would make it possible to minimise the town-planning, environmental and economic impact by using optic fibre to connect an individual device to a large number of ‘mini-masts’, which may be some distance apart from each other and from the devices. The use of broadband and appropriate equipment will also make it possible to use each of these mini-masts simultaneously for several operators and standards (GSM, UMTS, etc.), while their extremely small size means that they could be attached, for example, to public lamp posts.

In the light of the above, will the Commission say how it views these technological possibilities? Will it take any steps to advocate, facilitate and support solutions of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2003)

The Commission shares the Honourable Members' appreciation of the importance of achieving the rapid development of advanced new mobile communications services across the Union. Its position in this regard has been expressed in its previous Communications on the deployment of 3G services (5), as well as in the 8th Report on the implementation of the telecommunications regulatory package referred to by the Honourable Members.

The Commission has also expressed a favourable view, in principle, towards arrangements by which mobile network operators may achieve rapid deployment of new mobile services, including agreements on the sharing of network infrastructure elements, provided that such arrangements are compatible with the requirements of competition law. The Commission expects this issue to be discussed further amongst European regulators in the coming months.

As regards the different technological possibilities for achieving an effective and timely roll-out of new electronic communications services, the Commission welcomes any innovative methods of achieving this end in a way that is compatible with environmental and other public interest objectives. Indeed, through the 6th Framework Research and Technological Development Programme, the Commission has set aside some EUR 3,6 billion towards the Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme for research projects, including mobile communications, under which industry may propose projects they consider relevant to furthering broadband deployment in the Union, following specific calls for proposals. The Commission welcomes any technical solution that may promote the Information Society. However, in line with the principle of technological neutrality enshrined in the new Community regulatory framework for electronic communications, it believes that the choice of technology lies essentially with the operators concerned.

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(1)OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 7.

(2)OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 21.

(3)OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 33.

(4)OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51.

(5)  Communication on The Introduction of Third Generation Mobile Communications in the European Union: State of Play and the Way Forward', COM(2001) 141 final, Communication: Towards the full Roll-out of Third Generation Mobile Communications', COM(2002) 301 final.

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