Vol. 542 No. 5
184 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she or the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation determines policy regarding the third generation of mobile phones and the determination of the number of service providers in the market; if specific policy, objectives or instructions have been set by her office; if so, the extent of these policies, objectives or instructions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25183/01]
The policy at EU level on the co-ordinated introduction of a third generation mobile and wireless communications in the Union was determined by a European Parliament and Council Decision of 14 December 1999, Decision No. 128/1999/EC. This decision requires that member states take all actions necessary in order to allow, in accordance with the EU licensing directive, the co-ordinated and progressive introduction of 3G services in their territory by 1 January 2002. The responsibility for imple-
menting the requirements of the decision rests with the Director of Telecommunications Regulation. This is subject to any public service requirements for licensing spectrum that I may specify in accordance with section 4(9) of the Telecommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1996, and to my consent to regulations under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts to establish the licensing of the spectrum to be used for 3G. I have not specified any public service requirements under section 4(9) of the 1996 Act and have not yet received any proposed regulations from the director for my consent.
The determination of the appropriate number of service providers to licence for provision of 3G services and the award of licences is a matter for the Director of Telecommunications Regulation. Following a public consultation, and analysis of the market and spectrum availability, the director decided to license four service providers and has outlined the licensing framework to be employed. The setting of licence fees is a matter for the ODTR and the Minister for Finance.
