European regulations surrounding the unbundling of local looped telephone networks is hampering the development of next-generation broadband networks, according to the Fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) Council of Europe.
The FTTH claims that recent uncertainty over Euro-regulations has discouraged investment in high-speed networks, although representatives from telecoms regulatory bodies in the EC, UK, France and the Netherlands claimed last month that there is no need for further change to the current proposals.
The European Information Society is currently following its own roadmap for high-speed internet development, dubbed i2010, which is designed to create a single European information economy based on fast and affordable connections of over 10mbps. The fastest speed currently available to domestic users in the UK is 8mbps.
Summing up the problem, Meni Styliadou, chair of the FTTH Council’s regulatory affairs committee, said: “Would you invest billions in a long-term, fibre-optic infrastructure when, as the framework stands, your new assets could be un-bundled to competitors?”
Similar problems are occurring in future market for wireless broadband services in the European Union, with member states voting on whether to introduce a technology-neutral approach to spectrum previously earmarked for 3G systems.
According to a report published by Informa Telecoms & Media, European states have split into two camps, with one led by the UK and receiving strong backing from the EU, pushing to adopt a free-market approach to the 3G expansion bands. The other side, led by France and Finland, wants the EC to mandate use of IMT-2000 technologies only (see Europe Split Over Free Or Closed Market For 3G Expansion).
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