PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON THE STRENGTHENING OF THE FURTHER CO-ORDINATION OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE INTEGRATED SERVICES DIGITAL NETWORK ( ISDN ) IN THE COMMUNITY UP TO 1992
Date: 1988-12-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: ETSI, European standard, harmonisation of standards, information security, regulation of telecommunications, trans-European network, transmission network

COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

COM  (88)  695 

final 

Brussels,  6  December  1988 

PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL RESOLUTION 

on the strengthening of the further co-ordination 

of the introduction of the 

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) 

in the Community up to 1992 

(presented  by  the  Commission) 

2 

EXPLAi"JATOR Y NOTE 

The pro'!ision of a  modern tele~ommunications infrastructure is a prime objective of the 
tdecommunication1> policy of the European Community. The timely availability of JSDN, 
which can be considered as a natural evolution of the telephone network, allowing access to 
a large variety of voice (telephony), text,  data and image services via a single user /network 
interface is an important precondition for the completion of the single market for 
telecommunications equipment and services. 

On 22  December 1986 the Council of Ministers adopted Recommendation 86/659/EEC1 
concerning the co-ordinated introduction of ISDN in the Community. According to Article 
7 of this Recommendation the Commission submitted a first annual progress report 
contained in Communication COM(88) 589 of 31  October 19882 on the implementation of 
this Recommendation to the European Parliament and to the Council. 

On 5 November 1988 the Telecommunications Ministers at their informal meeting in 
Athens discussed the present situation with  regard to the co-ordinated introduction of 
ISDN on the basis of this report. While the report recognises the considerable efforts of 
the Member States to introduce ISDN in  accordance with the Council Recommendation, 
the delays and deviations which have occurred during the introduction of ISDN are also 
noted.  The Ministers welcomed the annual report and endorsed the findings and proposed 
policy orientations. 

The Ministers emphasised the high priority which should be given to the continuation and 
strengthening of the co-ordination and a common effort on the Community level aiming at 
the Community-wide provision of a set of pan-European commercial ISDN services up to 
1 Q92.  The Commission was invited to prepare a formal position for the 
Telecommunications Council to be held on 12 December 1988 in Brussels according to the 
proposed policy orientations. 

The Commission deems it appropriate to produce a formal expression of the consensus 
achieved to date, and therefore proposes the adoption of the Resolution as presented in 
the Annex. 

council  Recomnendation  on  the  co-ordinated  introduction  of  the  Integrated  Services  Digital 
Network  (ISDN)  in  the  European  Conmunity  (86/659/EEC  of  22  December  1986,  OJ  L 382/36). 

2 

COfTll'Unication  from  the  Conmission  concerning  the  i~lementation  of  Council  Recomnendation 
86/659/EEC  on  the  co-ordinated  introduction  of  the  Integrated  Services  Digital  Network  (ISDN) 
in  the  European  COfTll'Unity  - first  annual  progress  report  from  the  Conmission  to  the  European 
Parliament  (COM(88)  589  of  31  October  1988). 

3 

Council Resolution 

on the strengthening of the further co-ordination 
of the introduction of the Integrated Services Digital 
Network (ISDN) in the Community 
up to  1992 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, 

Having regard to the Proposal from the Commission, 

Whereas the Recommendation 86/659/EEC1 has provided a focal  point for ISDN 
implementation planning by the Telecommunications Administrations in  the Member 
States and the reported plans demonstrate a recognition of the value of compliance with 
the Recommendation's programme for  ISDN implementation, 

Whereas the Green Paper of 30 June 19872 and the Communication on  the 
implementation of the Green Paper of 9 February  19883  have developed policy and 
advanced a schedule of measures towards the completion of the common market in 
telecommunications, 

Whereas the Council Resolution of 30 June 19884  set the political basis for the 
developme:.~ of the common market for telecommunications services and equipment up  to 
1992, 

Council  Recorrmendation  on  the  co-ordinated  introduction  of  the  Integrated  Services  Digital 
Network  (ISDN)  in  the  European  Conmunity  (86/659/EEC  of  22  Decent>er  1986,  JO  L 382/36). 

Towards  a  dynamic  European  Economy  - Green  Paper  on  the  development  of  the  COIIITIOn  market  for 
teleconmunications  services  and  equipment  (C0111TIUnication  by  the  Conmission,  COM(87)  290  of  30 
June  1987). 

Towards  a  competitive  Conmunity-wide  telecorrmunications  market  in  1992  - Implementing  the 
Green  Paper  on  the  development  of  the  cClfTfOOn  market  for  telecoomunications  services  and 
equipment  (COIIIIUrlication  from  the  C0111Tiission,  COM(88)  48  of  9  February  1988). 

Council  Resolution  on  the  development  of  the  conmon  market  for  telecoornunications  services  and 
equipment  up  to  1992  CCOM(88)  336  of  30  June  1988). 

2 

3 

4 

4 

Whereas the Communication from  the Commission COM(88) 589 of 31  October 19885 
included the first  annual progress report  concerning the implementation of Council 
Recommendation  on the coordinated introduction of the ISDN, 

Whereas ISDN has gained substantial credibility in the Community with users,  industry 
and Telecommunications Administrations, 

Whereas ISDN is beginning to fulfil! its promise of developing into a new basis for the 
Community's telematics market of the early nineties, 

Whereas despite these positive achievements the major objectives of the Recommendation 
have been achieved only in part, 

Whereas substantial problems remain for the further co-ordination of the introduction of 
ISDN and must be resolved, 

Whereas, in particular the Memorandum of Understanding on pan-European Mobile 
Communications is already in  existence, and should be taken into account in the coming 
ISDN implementation with a view to ensuring the necessary integration. 

Whereas the Commission has proposed a  number of measures in order to remedy the 
current deficiencies, 

Whereas these proposals have been discussed in the Senior Officials Group on 
Telecommunications (SOG-T) and at the informal meeting of the Telecommunications 
Ministers in Athens on 5 November  1988. 

RECOGNISES THE EXISTENCE OF A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE BY 
FURTHER COMMON EFFORTS: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

5 

the availability of a set of truly pan-European commercial ISDN services up to  1992 
building on the initial phase of introduction of ISDN as set out in  the Annex of 
Recommendation 86/659/EEC. 

the end-to-end compatibility of those services and the availability of low cost 
terminals, which can be connected to and operated with the ISDN implementation 
in any Member State without any modification (terminal portability). 

the improvement of the competitiveness of the European terminal equipment 
industry. 

Corrnunication  from  the  Coomission  concerning  the  in-.,lementation  of  Council  RecOfTITlendation 
86/659/EEC  on  the  co-ordinated  introduction  of  the  Integrated  Services  Digital  Network  (ISDN) 
in  the  European  Coomunity  - first  annual  progress  report  from  the  Coomission  to  the  European 
Parliament  (COM(88)  589  of  31  October  1988). 

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CONSIDERS THE FOLLOWING MEASURES AS NECESSARY: 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

acceleration of the establishment of common specifications, based on  European 
standards, for equipment and interfaces at the European level,  by concentrating 
available resources within the framework of the European standardisation system 
and, in particular, of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute 
(ETSI). 

establishment of a "Memorandum of Understanding" between the 
Telecommunications Administrations on the provision of at least a minimum set of 
pan-European ISDN services and features and on the introduction of a common 
ISDN signalling system.  This should take account of Community competition rules 
and the objective of the creation of an open Community-wide  market for 
telecommunications services for all market participants, particularly for value 
added services.  Information on agreements envisaged should be communicated to 
the Commission before their conclusion6
• 

Such a Memorandum of Understanding should be open to all  interested 
Administrations to join.  The Memorandum of Understanding on the co-ordinated 
introduction of pan-European Mobile Communications, reached by the 
Telecommunications Administrations in  1987, could serve as an example. 

Seeking of a commitment from manufacturers to contribute, within the framework 
of European standardisation and as rapidly as possible, to the development of 
European standards and common specifications for terminals and PABXs. These 
standards and specifications should make it  possible to guarantee end-to-end 
compatibility and terminal portability. 

Rapid working out of a Proposal for a Council Directive on Open Network 
Provision (ONP), as foreseen in  the Council Resolution of 30 June 1988, covering 
ISDN, and including in particular Europe-wide definition of a minimum set of 
common user/network interfaces. This Proposal should take into account the 
requirements for the coordinated introduction of ISDN as set out in  the Council 
Recommendation. 

Further discussion on the European level regarding user privacy protection 
requirements in the context  of features of new services, in accordance with the 
Resolution of the European Parliament of 12 December 1986 on the ISDN 
Recommendation. 

INVITES THE COMMISSION AND THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
ADMINISTRATIONS: 

9. 

to undertake all necessary efforts to strengthen the further coordination for the 
introduction of ISDN in  the European Community. 

6 

without  prejudice  to  notification  under  Regulation  17/62 

10. 

to intensify the consultations hetween the Telecommunications Administrations of 
a!J  Memher States on the implementation of the coming period of ISDN 
specification work and implementation, with  the objective of the opening of a set  of 
pan-European commercial services available up  to  1992. 

6 

INVITES THE MEMBER STATES 

11. 

to provide the experts necessary for drawing up European standards as the basis for 
the common specifications considered above,  in  particular in the framework of the 
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). 

INVITES THE COMMISSION 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

to organise periodic meetings between the Commission and the Directors General 
of the Telecommunications Administrations in order to discuss questions and 
problems which may arise concerning the further co-ordination of the introduction 
of ISDN, in particular aspects of pan-European services. 

to issue mandates to ETSI in  addition to the adopted work programme as 
necessary and appropriate for  the acceleration of the production of European 
standards as the basis for common ISDN specifications, in  accordance with  existing 
Community procedures. 

to work out a Proposal for  a Council Directive concerning the Open Network 
Provision of the ISDN. 

to evaluate the feasibility of joint research and development for the implementation 
of common prototype terminals for a single or for several ISDN services in  the 
appropriate frameworks, and in  particular the RACE programme. 

to examine the possibilities for stepping up future support for  the implementation 
of ISDN in  the less favoured  regions of the Community, in  particular in  the context 
of the evaluation of the STAR programme.