Headline Oct 11, 2014/

''' DIGITAL AGENDA ''' : 

COMMISSION​ERS AND CZARS

SPEAK to the  boss  of a growing,  big,  rich-world, or for that matter even the developing world telecoms operators,  and :

He will soon  wax lyrical   about the attractions of markets,  emerging markets.

No matter what the state of economy, in any particular country, or wobbles, nothing seems to curb at least, the vocal enthusiasm for the collections of high-growth markets:

Whose prospects have more than offset a gloomy prognosis for the maturing, growth starved markets of the developed economies. So, with the source of future profits so clearly identified-

Presumably such firms/operators are doing everything possible to succeed in emerging markets?  

Europe wasn't always a digital laggard. Its telecoms operators were far quicker than America's to build  3G  mobile-telecoms networks.

Nokia once made the world's coolest mobile phones. But the old continent has fallen behind. Only a quarter of of the European Union's people have access to new  4G  networks, according to the European Commission.

In America, a single company  Verizon  reaches nine out of ten.

South Korea's broadband speeds leave Europe standing. Apple and Samsung make today's  palmfuls of desire.

Neelie Kroes, the commissioner overseeing Europe's  ''digital agenda'' , thinks crisper connectivity would be a boon not just for the EU's telecoms industry and its consumers but for the union's entire economy, from transport to health care.

Last year, on Sept 11th,   Ms Kroes published a plan, in the shape of a draft regulation, to bring Europe up to speed. The regulation is subject to approval by both the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.

Ms Kroes proposes a single market in an industry that still runs on national lines. Plenty of operators serve several EU countries.

But none operates in more than half of the 28 states, each of which has its own regulator and rules. The prices that network owners may charge competitors to rent copper wires vary by a factor of three.

Spectrum prices for  4G  vary by a factor of  50. Retail prices differ widely too.

European pay extra to make calls to other EU countries  or to use other phones abroad.

Many travellers turn off data  ''roaming''   to avoid being stung.

The Commissioner wants to make it easier for telecoms operators to enter new markets. 

A license in one country should be good in all. 

Future allocations of spectrum should be standardised , to make a pan-European business easier to plan.

Regulators should also facilitate sharing and trading of spectrum. But the idea is not to favour entry regardless of all else.

To encourage investment in fast  fibre-optic broadband.

Ms Kroes recommends  ''stabilising''  the prices that incumbent operators can charge entrants for renting  older,  slower copper wires.

If fees are too low, entrants will undercut the whizzy new networks.

For consumers though,  the most eye-catching proposal is to scrap roaming fees, as Ms Kroes has long wanted to do.

The Honour and Serving of the operational research continues. Thank you for reading. And see you on the following one:

With respectful dedication to all the Telecoms regulating authorities and operators of the world. See ya all on !WOW!   -the World Students Society Computers-Internet-Wireless:

''' Telecoms Regulations And  User Rights '''

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