EU's Reding calls for mobile payments system

European Commissioner Viviane Reding contends that European nations should accelerate their transition from analog television broadcasting to digital and institute a secure framework for mobile payments. Speaking in Brussels, Reding outlined her vision for the next five years, emphasizing a series of telecom reform initiatives. "I call on E.U. governments not to wait until 2012, the deadline for the [digital] switchover," she said, noting that the transition promises to free up spectrum for services like mobile broadband. "They should bring these benefits to citizens now."  

In addition to a more expansive mobile payments ecosystem, Reding contends that the European Commission should create a simple legal framework to make it easier for consumers to access digital content, as well as open up the digital economy for smaller businesses by means of an EU-based cloud computing system. She also challenged enterprises to make more efficient use of digital technologies to reduce their carbon footprint, advocating executives turn to videoconferencing instead of air travel.

For more on Reding's speech:
- read this Wall Street Journal article

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