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EC unveils broad strategy for 'digital single market'
2015-05-06 13:01:00| Telecompaper Headlines
(Telecompaper) The European Commission has unveiled its long-awaited Digital Single Market Strategy, a framework that envisages the approval of a major reform of EU telecoms regulation in 2016. The wide-ranging policy paper sets out a total of 16 initiatives aimed at boosting economic growth in Europe by knocking down national barriers. The EC proposes tackling one of the issues better access for consumers by clamping down on so-called "geo-blocking", confirming that it will propose legislation in the first half of 2016 to end the practice. As expected, the document states that the EC will launch "a comprehensive assessment of the role of platforms" such as Google, Facebook and Amazon by the end of the year as well as a separate antitrust inquiry into the e-commerce sector. The commission proposes an "ambitious overhaul of the telecoms regulatory framework" that addresses the increased competition with a view to ensuring "a level playing field for players and consistent applications of the rules." The overhaul will also include more effective spectrum coordination and a common EU-wide criteria for spectrum assignment at national level. In addition, the EC commits to creating as yet unspecified incentives for investment in high-speed broadband.
Tags: single
digital
market
strategy
Category:Telecommunications