EU ensures market competitiveness in digital broadcasting industry / 歐盟確保數碼電視業市場有效競爭 – 17/10/2013

The European Union has been trying to ensure a market competition in the telecommunication industry in order to boost EU’s competitiveness and enable consumers to obtain high-tech products with an affordable price. In 2005, the acceleration of switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting has been confirmed as one of the EU’s policy objectives . Not only does digital broadcasting improve the quality of audiovisual materials, its more efficient utilization of spectrum could free up spectrum capacity for other uses which will in turn stimulate innovation and growth in the TV and E-communications industries, at the same time providing wider choice of TV and radio channels to audiences .

In accordance with EU’s “competition”, “authorization” and “framework” Directives, the procedures of allocation of digital broadcasting spectrum should be carried out in the basis of open, transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate criteria. These ensure that the assignment process would lead to the entry of new players capable of enlivening competition in the market and expanding viewer choice .

Here are some cases regarding infringement proceedings launched by the EU against several member states.

Nevertheless, the system of issuing licensing and regulating ownership of public broadcasting services remains in national level.

歐盟確保數碼電視業市場有效競爭

歐盟一直致力在電訊行業中確保市場有效競爭，以加強歐盟的競爭力及減輕消費者的購入高科技產品時的經濟負擔。2005年，歐盟訂立了明確的指引，蓄意加快由模擬電視全面向數碼電視過渡。相比傳統模擬電視，數碼電視不單提供更佳的畫面和聲音質素，更可以提高頻譜效益。如此一來，騰出來的頻譜可以提供更多電視和其他通訊服務，刺激相關行業的增長，同時為大眾提供更多電視及電台頻道的選擇。

根據歐盟訂立有關電訊業的數項（”競爭”, “授權“及“框架”）指引中列明，會員國應秉持客觀、透明、非歧視及合理分配等原則進行頻譜分配 。頻譜必須以市場主導方式指配，以吸引更多新競爭者，讓公眾有更多選擇。

以下展示了過去幾年歐盟曾因成員國違反以上指引而提出指控的個案：

雖然如此，歐盟對有關發牌及管制公共廣播服務的政策仍然交由各成員國自行制定。

Press Release (24 May 2005) Commission expects most broadcasting in the EU to be digital by 2010http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/news/commission-expects-most-broadcasting-eu-be-digital-2010