Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-05-17-Speech-3-264"
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"en.20000517.12.3-264"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, previous speakers have mentioned the broad consensus that exists concerning the profits arising from the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector. There was no such consensus previously. To my great delight, I note that it is liberals who have been in the vanguard of this change: Commissioner Bangemann, together with Finland’s former Minister for Transport, Mr Norrback, who was among the first ministers to liberalise this sector.
I would point out, for example, that, last year, we in Finland noted that GSM prices were, on average, seven per cent lower. Even foreign calls were ten per cent lower than previously. We are therefore still making quite large strides in this area.
I also hope that, in the future, we shall be able to conduct a similar open dialogue with the Commission regarding development within this sector. The Commission is undertaking many investigations and inquiries. We need impartial information to be able to keep track of developments and, as public decision makers, to be able to take the necessary decisions.
These two reports deal with issues both large and small. In common with previous speakers, I would express my appreciation of the constructive cooperation that has taken place with the rapporteurs. The major issues are about the ways in which broadband services can be made available to everyone and about the auctions we have touched upon. Clearly, it is up to each Member State to decide upon its strategy for obtaining networks with high transmission speeds for everyone. However, we wish today to offer vigorous support to the Commission’s recommendation that dominant network operators should be responsible for permitting combined services all the way to the subscribers. In certain Member States, that is already the case, for example in my own country, Finland. Even there, consideration might be given to going further by introducing a situation in which dominant operators become responsible for hiring out the telecommunications companies’ premises for the purpose of housing equipment. I think we need to see to it that we utilise existing capacity as far as possible and obtain better service and, in that way, lower prices.
The auctions issue has provoked discussion and does so every day. One might well wonder if it is a question here of being penny wise and pound foolish. Apart from the risk of the auction prices for third generation mobile telephones putting the brakes on development, there are two other matters I should like to emphasise. There is a risk of roaming for third generation mobile telephony being put in jeopardy. There may also be a risk of barriers arising between the Member States. I would therefore hope that the Commission is alert to this question and that we can engage in a creative discussion on the subject."@en1
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