Following various political delays and arguments over Internet piracy [1], the EU was able to push its newly proposed telecom rules through Parliament. Now that it has gotten a 'yes' vote during a European Parliament plenary session, the EU says the new rules will become law by mid-2011.
Among the many new rules in the directive is that incumbent service providers will have to keep their networks apart from the other lines of business--promoting competition as well as creating a European body of national regulators to penalize any anti-competitive practices. In addition to promoting competitive practices, the EU will foster more investments in fiber-based broadband and upgrading the radio networks.
For more:
- Wall Street Journal via Dow Jones has this article [2]
Related articles
EU reaches agreement on proposed telecom rules
[1]EU can't pass 3-strike rule for illegal downloaders [3]
France fights EU telecom bill provision
[4]EU telecom reform progresses; France Telecom confirms outlook [5]
EU telecom reforms fall short of proposals [6] [1]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/eu-reaches-agreement-proposed-telecom-rules/2009-11-06
[2] http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091124-704579.html?mod=dist_smartbrief
[3] http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/eu-cant-pass-3-strike-rule-illegal-downloaders/2009-03-27
[4] http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/france-fights-eu-telecom-bill-provision/2009-04-21
[5] http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/eu-telecom-reform-progresses-france-telecom-hurting/2009-04-30
[6] http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/eu-telecom-reforms-fall-short-proposals/2008-09-28