EC looks to boost satellite services
August 27, 2007
A new mobile service for telephone, television and internet via satellite could be operational within a few years under a proposal made by the European Union’s executive arm.
The plan would make the European Commission (EC) the clearinghouse for satellite companies seeking permission to offer the service in Europe, avoiding the need for approval from each of the European Union’s 27 countries. “This would provide a one-stop shop,” a Commission representative said.
If the European Parliament and the European Union’s council of telecommunications ministers approve the plan next year, the EU executive hopes to choose satellite companies in 2009. “By creating the conditions for a single market… the Commission will maximise the potential of this market, benefiting businesses and consumers alike,” the Commission said in a statement.