E.C. mulls mobile satellite rules

The European Commission is exploring options to simplify licensing of mobile satellite services, a plan targeted to accelerate the growth of broadcast services to handheld devices. NetworkWorld reports that with the DVB-H standard now firmly in place, the commission is mulling a new legislative body responsible for authorizing mobile satellite service applications based on common technical and commercial criteria. Current policies demand operators seeking to provide satellite broadcast services in multiple markets apply for a license in each individual country they hope to serve. The European Commission's proposed regulations would effectively streamline this process. The commission hopes to earn support for the proposal when European telecommunications policies come up for review later this year. Several European mobile operators, including Vodafone, have already expressed interest in mobile satellite services to deliver TV content as well as broadband data.

For more on the European Commission's proposal:
- read this NetworkWorld article

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