NEWS published on 08 Nov 2022

Frequencies for a creative & inclusive Europe: EU’s way towards WRC-23

Artist interpretation of the debate that was held at the debate

On 8 November 2022, the Wider Spectrum Group held a debate on “Frequencies for a creative & inclusive Europe: EU’s way towards WRC-23”. The event offered a platform for discussion about the EU’s position on the lower UHF spectrum for WRC-23, industry’s suggestions for the content of the EU position for WRC-23, and the impact of the decisions taken by WRC-23 on the EU audiovisual, radio, live performance, and content creation sectors.

At next year's International Telecommunications Union World Radiocommunication Conference, there will be discussions on whether to maintain the current agreement or to share this spectrum band with mobile operators. The European Commission's representative Kyriakos Baxevanidis, Acting Head of Unit Radio Spectrum Policy, DG CNECT, noted that one of the Commission's objectives is to maintain the current agreement, which is also EU consensus, until 2030. In the negotiations, the EU should be clearto ensure sure that the current use of the lower UHF band cannot be re-discussed before 2031. Representatives from Europe's creative sectors echoed support for maintaining the agreement and called to the European institutions: Let the show go on! Only with the current good balance, can the media, live music, radio, plays and the live events sector continue to deliver content of the highest quality. 

Speakers:

  • Kyriakos Baxevanidis, Acting Head of Unit Radio Spectrum Policy, DG CNECT
  • Corinna Drumm, Managing Director of the Austrian Association of Commercial Broadcasters (VÖP) and AER Vice-President
  • Tom Bonte, General Manager of AB / Ancienne Belgique, member of Pearle
  • Daphne Tepper, Policy Director, UNI - MEI 
     

Contact detail

Vincent Sneed
Senior EU Policy Adviser
+32 2 286 91 43
sneed@ebu.ch