OXFORD, United Kingdom-As the telecom world is rocked by fresh scandals, European communications regulators are providing additional leeway to third-generation (3G) license holders by gently relaxing some of the more onerous obligations.
One of the first to move is the Swiss telecoms regulator ComCom, which has reacted to operators’ problems in rolling out their 3G networks by scrapping their obligation to provide 20-percent population coverage by the end of this year (see related news under “More Europe News”). ComCom said that its ruling reflected the commercial reality of a lack of 3G handsets and doubts about the commercial attractiveness of next-generation services if launched prematurely. However, the regulator maintained that Switzerland’s four 3G licensees must still provide 50-percent population coverage by the end of 2004.
Separately, RegTP, Germany’s telecoms watchdog, confirmed that it will double the number of frequencies available to 3G license holders by providing access to spectrum reserved for the military, although not for another five years.
