1996L0002—EN—15.02.1996—000.001—1
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►B COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 96/2/EC
of 16January 1996
amending Directive 90/388/EEC with regard to mobile and personal communications
(OJL20,26.1.1996,p.59)
Correctedby:
►C1Corrigendum,OJL66,16.3.1996,p.36(96/2)
1996L0002—EN—15.02.1996—000.001—2
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COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 96/2/EC
of 16January 1996
amending Directive 90/388/EEC with regard to mobile and personal
communications
THECOMMISSIONOFTHEEUROPEANCOMMUNITIES,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanCommunity,andinparticularArticle90(3)thereof,
Whereas:(1) InitscommunicationontheconsultationontheGreenPaperon
mobileandpersonalcommunicationsof23November1994,theCommissionsetoutthemajoractionsrequiredforthefuturereg-ulatory environment necessary to exploit the potential of thismeans of communication. It emphasized the need for the aboli-tion,assoonaspossible, ofall remaining exclusive andspecial
rights in the sector through full application of Community on
competitionrulesandwiththeamendmentofCommissionDirec-tive90/388/EECof28June1990competitioninthemarketsfortelecommunicationsservices(
1),aslastamendedbyDirective95/
51/EC(2),whererequired.Moreover,thecommunicationconsid-
eredremovingrestrictionsonthefreechoiceofunderlyingfacil-
ities used by mobile network operators for the operation anddevelopment of their networks for those activities which areallowed bythe licences orauthorizations. Sucha stepwasseenasessentialinordertoovercomecurrentdistortionsoffaircom-petition and, in particular, to allow such operators control over
theircostbase.
(2) TheCouncilResolutionof29June1995onthefurtherdevelop-
ment of mobile and personal communications in the European
Union(
3)gavegeneralsupporttotheactionsrequired,assetout
intheCommission'scommunication of23November1994,andconsideredasoneofthemajorgoalstheabolitionofexclusiveorspecialrightsinthisarea.
(3) TheEuropeanParliament,initsResolutionof14December1995
concerning the draft Commission Directive amending Directive90/388/EEC with regard to mobile and personal communica-tions(
4), welcomed this Directive in both its principles and its
objectives.
(4) Several Member States have already opened up certain mobile
communicationsservicestocompetitionandintroducedlicensing
schemesforsuchservices.Nevertheless,thenumberoflicences
grantedisstillrestrictedinmanyMemberStatesonthebasisofdiscretionor,inthecaseofoperatorscompetingwithtelecommu-nicationsorganizationssubjecttotechnicalrestrictionssuchasabanonusinginfrastructureotherthanthoseprovidedbythetele-communications organization. Many Member States, for exam-
ple, have still not granted licences for DCS 1800 mobile tele-
phony.
In addition, some Member States have maintained exclusive
rightsfortheprovisionofcertainmobileandpersonalcommuni-
cationsservicesgrantedtothenationaltelecommunicationsorga-nization.
(5) Directive 90/388/EEC provides for the abolition of special or
exclusiverightsgrantedbyMemberStatesinrespectofthepro-
(1) OJNoL192,24.7.1990,p.10.
(2) OJNoL256,26.10.1995,p.49.
(3) OJNoC188,22.7.1995,p.3.
(4) ResolutionA4-0306/95.
1996L0002—EN—15.02.1996—000.001—3
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vision of telecommunications services. However, the Directive
doesnotasyetapplytomobileservices.
(6) Wherethenumberofundertakingsauthorizedtoprovidemobile
and personal communications services is limited by Member
Statesthroughtheexistenceofspecialrightsand a fortioriexclu-
siverights,theseconstituterestrictionswhichwouldbeincompa-tiblewithArticle90inconjunctionwithArticle59oftheTreatywhenever such limitation is not justified under specific Treaty
provisions or the essential requirements, since these rights pre-
vent other undertakings fromsupplying the services concerned,toandfromotherMemberStates.Inthecaseofmobileandper-sonal communication networks and services, the applicableessential requirements encompass the effective use of the fre-quency spectrumand the avoidance of harm ful interference
betweenradio-based,space-basedorterrestrialtechnicalsystems.
Consequently,providedthattheequipmentusedtooffertheser-vicesalsosatisfiestheseessential requirements, thecurrentspe-cial rights and a fortioriexclusive rights on the provision of
mobileservicesarenotjustified andtherefore shouldbetreated
inthesamewayastheothertelecommunicationsservicesalready
covered by Directive 90/388/EEC. The scope of application ofthat Directive should accordingly be extended so as to includemobileandpersonalcommunicationsservices.
(7) Whenopeningthemarketsformobileandpersonalcommunica-
tionstocompetitionMemberStatesshouldgivepreferencetotheuse of Pan-European standards in the area, such as GSM, DCS1800, DECT and ERMES, in order to allow development andtransborder provision of mobile and personal communicationsservices.
(8) CertainMemberStateshavecurrentlygrantedlicencesfordigital
mobile radio-based services making use of frequencies in the1700to1900Mhzband,according tothe DCS1800standard.
The Commission communication of 23 November 1994 estab-
lished that DCS 1800 is to be seen as part of the GSM systemfamily. The other Member States have not authorized such ser-vicesevenwherefrequenciesareavailable inthisband,therebypreventing the cross-border provision of such services. This isalsoincompatiblewithArticle90inconjunctionwithArticle59.
To remedy this situation, Member States which have not yet
established a procedure for granting such licences should do sowithin a reasonable time-frame. In this context, due accountshould be taken of the requirement to promote investments bynew entrants in these areas. Member States should be able to
refrainfromgrantingalicencetoexistingoperators,forexample
tooperatorsofGSMsystemsalreadypresentontheirterritory,ifitcanbeshownthatthiswouldeliminateeffectivecompetitioninparticularbytheextensionofadominantposition.Inparticular,wherea Member State grantsorhasalready granted DCS1800licences,thegrantingofneworsupplementarylicencesforexist-
ingGSMorDCS1800operatorsmaytakeplaceonlyundercon-
ditionsensuringeffectivecompetition.
(9) Digital European cordless telecommunications (DECT) services
arealsoanessentialelementforthedevelopmenttowardsperso-
nalcommunications.DECTprovidesanalternativetothecurrent
localloopaccesstothepublicswitchedtelephonenetwork.On3June 1991, the Council, by Directive 91/287/EEC, designatedcoordinated frequency bands for the introduction of DECT intotheCommunity(
1)tobeimplementednotlaterthan31December
1991.CertainMemberStatesare,however,preventingtheuseof
thesefrequencies forsuchservicesbyrefusingtograntlicencesto companies which intend to start offering DECT services.Wheretelecommunicationsorganizationsweregrantedexclusiverightsfortheestablishmentofthepublicswitchedtelephonenet-
(1) OJNoL144,8.6.1991,p.45.
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work,theeffect ofsuchrefusalsistostrengthen theirdominant
positionandalsotodelaytheemergenceofpersonalcommunica-tions services and therefore restricts technical progress at theexpenseoftheuserscontrarytoArticle90oftheTreatyincon-junction with point (b) of Article 86. To remedy this situation
Member States which have not yet established a procedure for
granting such licences should also do so within a reasonabletime-frame.
(10) Evenwherelicencesweregrantedtocompetingmobileoperators,
MemberStateshaveincertaincasesgrantedtooneofthem,inadiscretionary manner, special legal advantages which were notgranted to others. In such a situation, these advantages may becounterbalanced by special obligations and do not, necessarily,preclude the latter from entering and competing in the market.
ThecompatibilityoftheseadvantageswiththeTreatymustthere-
forebeassessedonacase-by-casebasistakingintoaccounttheirimpactontheeffectivefreedomofotherentitiestoprovide,inanefficientmanner,thesametelecommunications serviceandtheirpossiblejustificationsregardingtheactivityconcerned.
(11) Theexclusiverightsthatcurrentlyexistinthemobilecommuni-
cations field were generally granted to organizations whichalready enjoyed a dominant position in creating the terrestrialnetworks,ortooneoftheirsubsidiaries.Insuchasituation,these
rightshavetheeffectofextendingthedominantpositionenjoyed
bythoseorganizationsandtherefore strengtheningthatposition,which,accordingtothecase-lawoftheCourtofJustice,constitu-tesanabuseofadominantpositioncontrarytoArticle86oftheTreaty. The exclusive rights granted in the mobile and personal
communicationsfieldareconsequentlyincompatiblewithArticle
90 read in conjunction with Article 86. These exclusive rightsshouldconsequentlybeabolished.
(12) Moreover,asregardsnewmobileservices,giventhedifficultyof
ensuringthattelecommunicationsorganizationsinthoseMember
States with less developed networks which would qualify for atransitional time period for the abolition of the exclusive rightsfor the establishment and use of infrastructures required for agivenmobileservice,wouldnotusethispositiontoextenditto
the market of the relevant mobile service, the Member States
should,inordertopreventabusesofdominantpositionscontraryto the Treaty, abstain from granting such telecommunicationsorganization, or any associated organization, a licence for thismobile service. Where telecommunications organization, do notornolongerenjoyexclusiverightsfortheestablishmentandthe
provisionofthepublicnetworkinfrastructure,theyshould,how-
ever,not a prioribeexcludedfromsuchlicensingprocedures.
(13) Exclusiverightsnotonlylimitaccesstothemarket,buttheyalso
havetheeffectofrestrictingorpreventing,tothedisadvantageof
users,the useof mobile and personal communications onoffer,therebyholdingbacktechnicalprogressinthisarea.Thetelecom-munications organizations have, inparticular, maintained highertariffsformobileradiophonyincomparisonwithfixedvoicetele-phony which hinders competition at the expense of their main
sourceofrevenues.
Where investment decisions are taken by undertakings in areas
where they enjoy exclusive rights, these undertakings are in aposition whereby they can decide to give priority to fixed net-
worktechnologies,whereasnewentrantsmayexploitmobileand
personaltechnologyeventocompetewithfixedservices,inparti-cularasregardsthelocal loop.Thus,theexclusiverightsimplythatthereisarestrictiononthedevelopmentofmobileandper-sonal communications and this is incompatible with Article 90,
readinconjunctionwithArticle86.
(14) Inordertoestablishtheconditionsunderwhichmobileandper-
sonalcommunicationssystemsaretobeprovided,MemberStatesmayintroducelicensingordeclarationprocedurestoensurecom-
1996L0002—EN—15.02.1996—000.001—5
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pliancewiththeapplicableessentialrequirementsandpublicser-
vicespecificationsintheformoftraderegulations,subjecttotheproportionality principle. Public service specifications in theformof trade regulations relate to conditions of perm anence,availability, and quality of the service. Such conditions may
includetheobligationtogiveserviceprovidersaccesstoairtime
ontermsatleastasfavourableasthoseavailabletoaservicepro-vision businessowned by, or with ownership links to, a mobilenetwork.Thisframeworkiswithoutprejudicetotheharmoniza-tionoftheframeworkforlicensingintheCommunity.
Thenumberoflicencesmaybelimitedonlyinthecaseofscar-
cityofthefrequencyresources.Conversely,licensingisnotjusti-fied when a mere declaration procedure would suffice to attaintherelevantobjective.
Asregardsairtimeresaleandothermereprovisionofservicesby
independent service providers or directly by mobile networkoperators on already authorized mobile systems, none of the
applicable essential requirements would justify the introduction
ormaintenanceoflicensingprocedures,giventhatsuchservicesdonotconsistoftheprovisionoftelecommunicationsservicesorthe operation of a mobile communications network, but of theretail of authorized services, the provision of which is likely tobe subject to conditions ensuring compliance with essential
requirementsorpublicservicespecificationsintheformoftrade
regulations.
They could therefore, besides the application of national fair
traderulesconcerningallsimilarretailactivities,onlybesubject
toarequirementofadeclarationoftheiractivitiestotheNationalRegulatoryAuthorityoftheMemberStateswheretheychoosetooperate.Mobilenetworkoperatorscouldontheotherhandrefusetoallowserviceproviderstodistributetheirservices,inparticularwheretheseserviceprovidersdidnotadheretoacodeofconduct
forserviceprovidersinconformitywiththecompetitionrulesof
theTreaty,asfarassuchcodeexists.
(15) In the context of mobile and personal communications systems
radiofrequenciesareacrucialbottleneckresource.Theallocation
ofradiofrequenciesformobileandpersonalcommunicationssys-temby Mem ber States according to criteria other than thosewhichareobjective,transparentandnon-discriminatoryconstitu-tesarestrictionincompatiblewithArticle90inconjunctionwithArticle 59 of the Treaty to the extent that operators fromother
MemberStatesaredisadvantagedintheseallocationprocedures.
Thedevelopmentofeffectivecompetitioninthetelecommunica-tionssectormaybeanobjectivejustificationtorefusethealloca-tionoffrequenciestooperatorsalreadydominantinthegeogra-phicalmarket.
MemberStatesshouldensurethattheprocedureforallocationof
radiofrequenciesisbasedonobjectivecriteriaandwithoutdiscri-minatory effects. In this context Member States should, withregardtofuturedesignationoffrequenciesforspecificcommuni-
cationsservices,publishthefrequencyplansaswellastheproce-
dures to be followed by operators to obtain frequencies withinthe designated frequency bands. Current frequency allocationshouldbereviewedbytheMemberStatesatregularintervals.Incases where the number of licences waslimited onthe basisofspectrumscarcity, Mem ber States should also review whether
advancesintechnologywouldallowspectrumtobemadeavail-
ableforadditionallicences.Possiblefeesfortheuseoffrequen-cies should be proportional and levied according to the numberofchannelseffectivelygranted.
(16) MostMemberStatescurrentlyobligemobileoperatorstousethe
leasedlinecapacityoftelecommunicationsorganizationsforbothinternalnetworkconnectionsandfortheroutingoflongdistanceportionsofcalls.Asthechargesforleasedlinerentalrepresentasubstantial proportion of the mobile operator's cost base, this
1996L0002—EN—15.02.1996—000.001—6
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requirement gives the supplying telecommunications organiza-
tion,i.e.inmanycasesitsdirectcompetitor,aconsiderableinflu-ence on the commercial viability and cost structure of mobileoperators.Inaddition, restrictionsontheself-provisionofinfra-structureandtheuseofthirdpartyinfrastructureisslowingdown
thedevelopment ofmobileservices,inparticular becauseeffec-
tive pan-European roaming for GSM relies on the widespreadavailability ofaddressedsignalling systems,atechnologywhichis not yet universally offered by telecommunications organiza-tionsthroughouttheCommunity.
Suchrestrictionsontheprovisionanduseofinfrastructurescon-
straintheprovisionofmobileandpersonalcommunicationsser-vicesbyoperatorsfromotherMemberStatesandarethusincom-patible with Article 90 in conjunction with Article 59 of the
Treaty. To the extent that the competitive provision of mobile
voiceservicesispreventedbecausethetelecommunicationsorga-nizationisunabletomeetthemobileoperator'sdemandforinfra-structuresorwillonlydosoonthebasisoftariffswhicharenotorientedtowardsthecostsoftheleasedlinecapacityconcerned,theserestrictionsinevitablyfavourthetelecommunicationsorga-
nization's offering of fixed telephony services, for which most
MemberStatesstillmaintainexclusiverights.Therestrictionontheprovisionanduseofinfrastructure thusinfringesArticle90,inconjunctionwithArticle86oftheTreaty.Accordingly,Mem-berStatesmustlifttheserestrictionsandgrant,ifrequested,therelevantmobileoperatorsonanon-discriminatorybasisaccessto
thenecessaryscarce resourcestosetuptheirowninfrastructure
includingradiofrequencies.
(17) Currently,thedirectinterconnectionbetweenmobilecommunica-
tionssystemsaswellasbetweenmobilecommunicationssystems
andfixedtelecommunications networkswithinasingleMember
State or between systems located in different Member States isrestricted in mobile licences granted by many Member Stateswithoutanytechnicaljustification.Furthermore,restrictionsexistfortheinterconnectionofsuchnetworksvianetworksotherthan
the public telecommunications networks. In the Member States
concerned, mobile operators are required to interconnect withothermobileoperatorsviathetelecommunicationsorganization'sfixed network. Such requirements result in additional costs andthusimpede,inparticular,thedevelopmentoftransborderprovi-sion of mobile communication services in the Community and
thereforeinfringeArticle90,inconjunctionwithArticle59.
As in most Member States exclusive rights for the provision of
voicetelephonyandpublicfixednetworkinfrastructurearemain-tained,potentialabusesoftherelevanttelecommunicationsorga-
nization's dominant position can be prevented only if Member
States ensure that interconnection of public mobile communica-tionssystemsismadepossibleatdefinedinterfaceswiththepub-lic telecommunications network of those telecommunicationsorganizations and that the interconnection conditions are basedonobjectivecriteria,justifiedbythecostofprovidingtheinter-
connectionservice,aretransparent,non-discriminatory,published
inadvanceandallowthenecessarytariffflexibility,includingtheapplication of off-peak rates. In particular, transparency isrequiredinrespectofcost-accountingofoperatorsprovidingbothfixednetworksandmobiletelecommunicationsnetworks.Special
andexclusiverightsinrespectoftheestablishmentofcross-bor-
der infrastructure for voice telephony are not affected by thisDirective.
InordertobeabletoensurethefullapplicationofthisDirective
asregardsinterconnection,informationoninterconnectionagree-
mentsmustbeavailabletotheCommissiononrequest.
The drawing up of such national procedures for licensing and
interconnection,iswithoutprejudicetotheharmonizationofthelatter at Community level by European Parliament and Council
1996L0002—EN—15.02.1996—000.001—7
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Directives, in particular within the framework of Directives on
opennetworkprovision(ONP).
(18) Article 90 (2) of the Treaty provides for an exception to the
Treaty rules, and in particular to Article 86, in cases where the
application of the latter would obstruct the performance, in laworinfact,oftheparticulartasksassignedtothetelecommunica-tionsorganizations.Pursuanttothatprovision,Directive90/388/EEC allows exclusive rights to be maintained for a transitionalperiodinrespectofvoicetelephony.
VoicetelephonyisdefinedinArticle1ofDirective90/388/EEC
asthecommercialprovisionforthepublicofthedirecttransportand switching of speech in real time between public switchednetwork termination points, enabling any user to useequipment
connected tosuchanetworktermination point inordertocom-
municatewithanotherterminationpoint.Thedirecttransportandswitching of speech via mobile and personal communicationsnetworksisnotimplementedbetweentwopublicswitchedtermi-nation points and is therefore not voice telephony within themeaningofDirective90/388/EEC.
OnthebasisofArticle90(2)oftheTreaty,publicservicespeci-
ficationsintheformoftraderegulationsapplicabletoallauthor-izedoperatorsofmobiletelecommunicationsservicesprovidedtothe public, are, however, justified to ensure the fulfilment of
objectivesofgeneraleconomicinterest,suchasensuringgeogra-
phicalcoverageortheimplementationofCommunity-widestan-dards.
(19) Initsassessmentofcurrentrestrictionsimposedonmobileopera-
torsconcerningtheestablishmentanduseoftheirowninfrastruc-
tureand/ortheuseofthirdpartyinfrastructures,theCommissionwillfurtherconsidertheneedforadditionaltransitionperiodsforMemberStateswithlessdevelopednetworksascalledforintheCouncil'sResolutionof22July1993onthereviewofthesitua-
tion in the telecommunications sector and the need for further
developmentinthatmarket(
1)inadditiontotheCouncil'sReso-
lution of22December 1994ontheprinciples andtimetable forthe liberalization of telecommunications infrastructures(
2).
Although not covered by these resolutions there should be thepossibilityofrequestinganadditionaltransitionperiodasregards
the direct interconnection of mobile networks. The Member
States which may request such an exception are Spain, Ireland,Greece and Portugal. However, only certain of these MemberStates do not allow GSM mobile operators to use own and/orthird party infrastructures. A specific procedure should be pro-videdinordertoassessthepossiblejustificationforthemainte-
nance of that regime for the provision of mobile and personal
communicationsservicesforatransitionaltimeperiodassetoutinthesaidCouncilresolutions.
(20) ThisDirectivedoesnotpreventmeasuresbeingadoptedinaccor-
dancewithCommunitylawandexistinginternationalobligations
so as to ensure that nationals of Member States are affordedequivalenttreatmentinthirdcountries,
HASADOPTEDTHISDIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Directive90/388/EECisamendedasfollows:
1. Article1(1)isamendedasfollows:
(a) thefollowingindentsareinsertedaftertheninthindent:
(1) OJNoC213,6.8.1993,p.2.
(2) OJNoC379,31.12.1994,p.4.
1996L0002—EN—15.02.1996—000.001—8
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‘— “mobile and personal communications services” means
servicesotherthansatelliteserviceswhoseprovisioncon-sists, wholly or partly, in the establishment of radiocom-munications to a mobile user, and makes use wholly orpartlyofmobileandpersonalcommunicationssystems,
— “mobile and personal communications systems” means
systemsconsistingoftheestablishmentandoperationofa
mobilenetworkinfrastructurewhetherconnectedornottopublicnetworkterminationpoints,tosupportthetransmis-sion and provision of radiocommunications services tomobileusers,’;
(b) thethirteenthindentisreplacedbythefollowing:
‘— “essential requirements” means the non-economic rea-
sons in the public interest which may cause a MemberState to impose conditions on the establishment and/or
operation of telecommunications networks or the provi-
sion of telecommunications services. These reasons arethe security of network operations, maintenance of net-work integrity, and where justified, interoperability ofservices, data protection, the protection of the environ-
ment and town and country planning objectives as well
as the efficient use of the frequency spectrumand theavoidance of harmful interference between radio-basedtelecommunications systems and other space-based orterrestrialtechnicalsystems.
Dataprotectionmayincludeprotectionofpersonaldata,
theconfidentialityofinformationtransmittedorstoredas
wellastheprotectionofprivacy.’
2. Article1(2)isreplacedbythefollowing:
‘2. ThisDirectiveshallnotapplytotelex.’
3. ThefollowingArticles3ato3dareinserted:
‘Article 3a
In addition to the requirements set out in the second paragraph of
Article2MemberStatesshall,inattachingconditionstolicencesor
generalauthorizationsformobileandpersonalcommunicationssys-
tems,ensurethefollowing:
(i) licensing conditions must not contain conditions other than
those justified on the grounds of the essential requirementsand,inthecaseofsystemsforusebythegeneralpublic,publicservicerequirementsintheformoftraderegulationwithinthemeaningofArticle3;
(ii) licensingconditionsformobilenetworkoperatorsmustensure
transparent and non-discriminatory behaviour between fixed
andmobilenetworkoperatorsincommonownership;
(iii) licensing conditions should not include unjustified technical
restrictions. Member States may not, in particular, preventcombination of licences or restrict the offer of different tech-nologies making use of distinct frequencies, where multistan-
dardequipmentisavailable.
As far as frequencies are available, member States shall award
licencesaccordingtoopen,non-discriminatory,andtransparentpro-cedures.
MemberStatesmaylimitthenumberoflicencesformobileandper-
sonal communications systems to be issued only on the basis ofessential requirements and only where related to the lack of avail-
ability of frequency spectrumand justified under the principle of
proportionality.
Licenceawardproceduresmayconsiderpublicservicerequirements
intheformoftraderegulationwithinthemeaningofArticle3,pro-
1996L0002—EN—15.02.1996—000.001—9
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vided the solution which least restricts competition is chosen. The
relevant conditions related to trade regulations may be attached tothelicencesgranted.
MemberStateswhicharegrantedanadditionalimplementationper-
iod to abolish the restrictions with regard to infrastructure as pro-
videdforinArticle3c,shallnotduringthatperiodgrantanyfurther
mobile orpersonalcommunications licence to ►
C1telecommuni-
cations organizations, or any associated organization. Where tele-communicationsorganizationsinsuchMemberStates ◄donotor
no longer enjoy exclusive or special rights, within the meaning ofpoints(b)and(c)ofthefirstparagraphofArticle2,fortheestab-
lishmentandtheprovisionofthepublicnetworkinfrastructure,they
shallnot a prioribeexcludedfromsuchlicensingprocedures.
Article 3b
Thedesignationofradiofrequenciesforspecificcommunicationser-
vicesmustbebasedonobjectivecriteria.Proceduresmustbetrans-
parentandpublishedinanappropriatemanner.
Member States shall publish every year or make available on
request, the allocation scheme of frequencies reserved for mobileandpersonalcommunicationsservices,accordingtotheschemesetout in the Annex, including the plans for future extension of suchfrequencies.
This designation must be reviewed by Member States at regular
appropriateintervals.
Article 3c
Member States shall ensure that all restrictions on operators of
mobile and personal communications systems with regard to theestablishment of their owninfrastructure, the useof infrastructuresprovided by third and the sharing of infrastructure, other facilitiesandsites,subjecttolimitingtheuseofsuchinfrastructurestothose
activitiesprovidedforintheirlicenceorauthorization,arelifted.
Article 3d
Withoutprejudicetothefutureharmonization ofnationalintercon-
nectionrulesinthecontextofONP,MemberStatesshallensurethatdirect interconnection between mobile communications systems,aswellasbetweenmobilecommunicationssystemsandfixedtelecom-munications networks, is allowed. In order to achieve this, restric-
tionsoninterconnectionshallbelifted.
Member States shall ensure that operators of mobile communica-
tionssystemsforthepublichavetherighttointerconnecttheirsys-tems with the public telecommunications network. To this end,Member States shall guarantee access to the necessary number ofpointsofinterconnectiontothepublictelecommunicationsnetwork
inthelicencesformobileservices.MemberStatesshallensurethat
thetechnicalinterfacesofferedatsuchpointsofinterconnectionaretheleastrestrictiveinterfacesavailableasregardsthefeaturesofthemobileservices.
MemberStatesshallensurethatinterconnectionconditionswiththe
publictelecommunicationsnetworkofthetelecommunicationsorga-
nizations are set on the basis of objective criteria, are transparent
and non-discriminatory, and compatible with the principle of pro-portionality.Theyshallensurethat,incaseofappeal,fullaccesstointerconnectionagreementsisgiventoNationalRegulatoryAuthori-tiesandthatsuchinformationismadeavailabletotheCommission
onrequest.’
4. InthefirstsentenceofArticle4theword‘fixed’isinsertedbefore
thewords‘publictelecommunicationsnetworks’.
1996L0002—EN—15.02.1996—000.001—10
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Article 2
1. WithoutprejudicetoArticle2ofDirective90/388/EEC,andsub-
ject to the provision set out in paragraph 4 of this Article, MemberStatesshallnotrefusetoallocatelicencesforoperatingmobilesystemsaccording to the DCS 1800 standard at the latest after adoption of adecisionoftheEuropeanRadiocommunicationsCommitteeontheallo-
cationofDCS1800frequenciesandinanycaseby1January1998.
2. MemberStatesshall,subjecttotheprovisionsetoutinparagraph
4, not refuse to allocate licences for public access/Telepoint applica-tions,includingsystemsoperationonthebasisoftheDECTstandardasfromtheentryintoforceofthisDirective.
3. Member States shall not restrict the combination of mobile tech-
nologies or systems, in particular where multistandard equipment is
available.Whenextendingexistinglicencestocoversuchcombinations
Member States shall ensure that such extension is justified in accor-dancewiththeprovisionsofparagraph4.
4. MemberStatesshalladopt,whererequired,measurestoensurethe
implementation of this Article taking account of the requirement toensure effective competition between operators competing in the rele-
vantmarkets.
Article 3
Member States shall supply to the Commission, not later than nine
monthsafter thisDirective hasentered intoforce,suchinformation as
willallowtheCommissiontoconfirmthatArticle1aswellasArticle2(2)havebeencompliedwith.
MemberStatesshallsupplytotheCommission,notlaterthan1January
1998, such information as will allow the Commission to confirm thatArticle2(1)hasbeencompliedwith.
Article 4
MemberStateswithlessdeveloped networksmayrequestatthelatest
three months from the entry into force of this Directive an additional
implementationperiodofuptofiveyears,inwhichtoimplementallor
some of the conditions set out in Article 3c and in Article 3d (1) ofDirective 90/388/EEC, to the extent justifiable by the need to achievethe necessary structural adjustments. Such a request must include adetaileddescriptionoftheplannedadjustmentsandapreciseassessmentof the timetable envisaged for their implementation. The information
providedshallbemadeavailabletoanyinterestedpartyondemand.
TheCommissionwillassesssuchrequestsandtakeareasoneddecision
withinatimeperiodofthreemonthsontheprinciple,implicationsandmaximumdurationoftheadditionalperiodtobegranted.
Article 5
ThisDirectiveshallenterintoforceonthe20thdayfollowingitspubli-
cationinthe Official Journal of the European Communities .
Article 6
ThisDirectiveisaddressedtotheMemberStates.
1996L0002—EN—15.02.1996—000.001—11
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ANNEX
1. Frequencybandsallocatedtomobilesystems.
(specifyingthenumberofchannels,theservicetowhichitisallocated and
thereviewdateoftheallocation)
2. Frequencybandswhichwillbemadeavailableformobilesystemsduringthe
nextyear.
3. Proceduresenvisagedtoassignthesefrequenciestoexistingornewoperators.