EU starts pan-European comms move

The European Union this week started a process to decide which satellite operators would be allowed to offer pan-European services such as comms with only one authorisation.

The move by the EU's executive Commission does away with the need for operators like Luxembourg's SES and Britain's Inmarsat to obtain permission from each of the bloc's 27 states to offer Europe-wide satellite-based services.

It aims to create a single market for satellite services such as mobile television and high speed data. The European Commission expects to complete its selection in the first half of next year along with endorsements from member states.

It hopes the one-stop system will help make pan-EU services more viable and help reach thinly populated areas as well. "Henceforth, the ball is in the camp of the industry," said EU Telecoms Commissioner, Viviane Reding. "I expect intense competition among operators offering satellite-based communication services reaching consumers from the north of Sweden to the south of Spain," Reding said.