The European Commission has adopted a decision establishing harmonised technical rules for member states on the allocation of radio frequencies in the 800 MHz band that contribute to the deployment of high-speed wireless internet services by avoiding harmful interference.

In several member states the 800 MHz frequencies are being freed up as part of the so-called "digital dividend" resulting from the switchover from analogue to digital television broadcasting.

The new Commission decision stipulates that all member states which decide to make available the 790-862 MHz spectrum band (the so-called 800 MHz band) for services other than broadcasting should apply the same harmonised technical rules when they do so. These technical rules will ensure that radio communications equipment, like handsets or base stations using the 800 MHz band, can be used efficiently for wireless broadband networks, such as fourth generation mobile technology (e.g. LTE or WiMax). LTE and WiMax enable larger amounts of information to be processed and transmitted than today, e.g. for high quality (on demand) video streaming to mobile or smart phones and other devices without interruptions.

The Commission said it strongly supports the use of this band and wants EU countries to act quickly, as coordinated management of this spectrum could give an economic boost of up to €44 billion to the EU's economy and help to achieve the EU 2020 Strategy target of high-speed broadband for all by the end of 2013 (with speeds gradually increasing up to 30 Mbts and above in 2020).

Telecoms industry experts estimate that infrastructure to provide mobile broadband coverage using the 800 MHz band will be around 70 per cent cheaper than through using the radio frequencies currently used by third generation mobile technology (UMTS). The lower costs involved in rolling out such networks will make these investments more attractive for operators, which should improve the geographic coverage of wireless broadband services.

EU countries should complete their switchover from analogue to digital terrestrial television by the end of 2012. The move will free up an unprecedented amount of spectrum, known as the "digital dividend". Malta switches over on December 31 this year.