CELEX: 51988PC0695
Language: en
Date: 1988-12-06
Title: 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)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (88) 695
Vol. 1988/0227
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 ---pagebreak--- 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)
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
The provision of a modern telecommunications infrastructure is a prime objective of the
telecommunications policy of the European Community. The timely availability of ISDN,
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
1992. 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 Recommendation on the co-ordinated introduction of the Integrated Services Digital
      Network ( ISDN ) in the European Community ( 86/659/EEC of 22 December 1986 , OJ L 382/36 ).
      Conmunication from the Commission concerning the implementation of Council Recommendation
      86/659/EEC on the co-ordinated introduction of the Integrated Services Digital Network ( ISDN )
      in the European Community - first annual progress report from the Commission to the European
      Parliament ( C0M(88 ) 589 of 31 October 1988 ).
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                                        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
development of the common market for telecommunications services and equipment up to
1992,
      Council Recommendation on the co-ordinated introduction of the Integrated Services Digital
     Network ( ISDN ) in the European Community ( 86/659/ EEC of 22 December 1986 , JO L 382/ 36 ).
      Towards a dynamic European Economy - Green Paper on the development of the common market for
      telecommunications services and equipment ( Communication by the Commission , COMC87 ) 290 of 30
     June 1987 ).
      Towards a competitive Community-wide telecommunications market in 1992 - Implementing the
     Green Paper on the development of the common market for telecommunications services and
     equipment ( Communication from the Commission , COM(88 ) 48 of 9 February 1988 ).
     Council Resolution on the development of the common market for telecommunications services and
     equipment up to 1992 ( C0M(88 ) 336 of 30 June 1988 ).
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                                      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 fulfill 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.      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.
2.      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).
3.      the improvement of the competitiveness of the European terminal equipment
        industry.
     Communication from the Commission concerning the implementation of Council Recommendation
     86/659/EEC on the co-ordinated introduction of the Integrated Services Digital Network ( ISDN )
     in the European Community - first annual progress report from the Commission to the European
     Parliament ( C0M(88 ) 589 of 31 October 1988 ).
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                          5
CONSIDERS THE FOLLOWING MEASURES AS NECESSARY :
4.     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).
5.     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 .
6.     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.
7.     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 .
8.     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 préjudice to notification under Régulation 17/62
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 10 . to intensify the consultations between the Telecommunications Administrations of
      all Member 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.
INVITES THE MEMBER STATES
1 1.  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.   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.
13 .  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.
14.   to work out a Proposal for a Council Directive concerning the Open Network
      Provision of the ISDN .
15.   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.
16.   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.