LONDON-The European Commission has commissioned a study on trading radio spectrum within the EC. The study begins this fall and will be completed in May 2004.
The EC appointed Analysys Consulting Ltd., DotEcon Ltd. and Hogan & Hartson to undertake the study through a $458,000 contract.
The commission said significant benefits could be achieved by improving flexibility in the usage rights relating to radio frequencies and allowing them to be traded. The EC wants to ensure that disparate approaches are not adopted across EU member states.
“Spectrum trading may provide a dynamic means for spectrum rights to be acquired or disposed of,” Analysys said in a statement.
Such a policy for spectrum trading could potentially benefit owners of UMTS spectrum in Europe.
The consultation team will hold an open workshop in December in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss the findings of the initial phase of the project.
