GSM Europe Calls For Mobile Industry Investment Strategies That Safeguard Innovation |
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Brussels, Belgium, 10 th June 2004: As
European Ministers meet today, GSM Europe, the European Interest Group of the
GSM Association, today emphasised the need for the Member States’ focus
on mobile communications to recognise the importance of planned and steady investment
in the mobile industry.
Mobile communications make significant and increasing contributions to the productivity
of EU Member States. As the range of services provided, directly or indirectly,
by mobile operators increases it is important that regulations are applied in
a proportionate and appropriate way to avoid removing the incentives to innovate.
This is particularly true in the areas of m-commerce and GSM Europe welcomes
EC initiatives to address these concerns.
Revenues from the worldwide GSM industry are estimated to be worth some $500
billion next year, providing a solid and ongoing economic and technology catalyst
and providing employment opportunities and potential for limitless innovation.
As the regional voice of the mobile industry, GSM Europe is committed to helping
to foster a healthy and competitive environment for its mobile operator members,
based on a sound and structured approach to investment.
Kaisu Karvala, Chair, GSM Europe, said: "The mobile industry in Europe
is now into its third major investment cycle, deploying third generation networks.
Unlike previous investment cycles this also involves the delivery of more complex
services that use the higher data speeds available.
"This requires considerable investment from operators in areas beyond basic
networks and it is important that regulators and governments take the opportunity
given by the new EU regulatory regime to avoid actions that deter investment."
Mobile communications can be viewed as the most influential market sector to
have emerged over the last 20 years. With over one billion subscribers globally
(442.3 million subscribers in Europe), GSM is firmly established worldwide, and
is now moving into the next stage of data-rich features and services that will
further increase the technology’s value to the end-user. Continuous investment
must be encouraged to safeguard this growth and to enable the European operators
to compete effectively with the rest of the world.
About
the GSM Association & GSM Europe
For further information:
Ian
Volans
Corporate Communications
GSM Association
Tel: +44 (0)20 7518 0545
Fax: +44 (0)20 7518 0531
Email: press@gsm.org
Kiki Walravens
Communications Manager
GSM Europe
Tel: +32 15 27 59 06
Fax: +32 15 27 03 21
Email: kwalravens@gsm.org
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