GSM Europe Events

On 2 April 2008, MEP Ruth Hieronymi hosted GSME's Child Safety and New Technologies Seminar in Brussels.

The purpose of the event was to discuss industry self-regulation in the area of children's use of mobile and internet technologies with representatives of EU institutions and children's NGOs. The following industry initiatives were presented:

• The European Framework for Safer Mobile Use by Younger Teenagers and Children
• The Pan European Industry Education Partnership
• The Mobile Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Content.

Interventions were also made by the European Commission and a children's NGO.

On 22 January 2008, GSME held its second Annual Reception at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels. The purpose of this event was to facilitate a discussion amongst EU stakeholders on the key issues facing the telecommunications industry in the coming year.

The Reception brought together around 180 participants from the European Parliament, the Council, the European Commission, consumer organisations and the telecommunications industry.

Meglena Kuneva, European Commissioner for Consumer Protection, delivered the keynote address. Interventions were also made by Alexander Alvaro (MEP), Ljudmila Tozon (Chair of the Council Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Society under the SIovenian Presidency of the EU) and Mauro Sentinelli (Board Member and Managing Director of Telecom Italia).

GSME organised a debate in the European Parliament on 7 November 2007 to set the scene for the release of European Commission proposals on the review of the EU telecommunications regulatory package. Co-chaired by Ms Kaisu Karvala, Chair of GSM Europe, and Mr Gunnar Hökmark (EPP-ED), MEP, the event focused on three themes, which are most likely to impact the mobile industry:

• spectrum reform
• institutional changes- the European Communications Market Authority
• bridging the digital divide through mobile broadband

MEPs Fiona Hall (ALDE), Pilar del Castillo (EPP-ED) and Alexander Alvaro (ALDE) chaired the three respective sessions. Presentations were given by speakers from the European Commission, the European Regulators Group and the mobile industry.

The debate attracted around 80 participants from the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council and the telecommunications industry, which made it a clear success.

On 26 June 2007, Catherine Trautmann MEP hosted GSME’s breakfast discussion "Child Safety and Mobile Phones" at the European Parliament in Brussels. The aim of this event was to promote and discuss the European Framework for Safer Mobile Use by Younger Teenagers and Children, a self-regulatory initiative signed by mobile operators and content providers on 6 February 2007. More information about the Framework.

The breakfast was attended by MEPs from across a range of European Parliament committees, including Mary Honeyball, Roger Helmer, Christel Schaldemose, Pia Elda Locatelli, Bill Newton Dunn and Satu Hassi. Overall, the event facilitated a constructive debate on safer mobile use amongst MEPs, the European Commission, the non-governmental sector and industry. The European Commission and NGOs praised the self-regulatory approach taken by GSME members and looked forward to the progress report on implementing the European Framework in February 2008.

Speeches were given by:
Catherine Trautmann, Vice-Chair ITRE
Richard Swetenham, Head of Unit, DG INFSO
Allison Murray, Corporate Responsibility Manager, T-Mobile UK
John Carr, Secretary, Children's Charities' Coalition for Internet Safety (CHIS)
Markus Berger-de Leon, Managing Director, Jamba! GmbH
Maria Jose Cantarino, Telefonica Spain

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On 8 June 2007, Kaisu Karvala, Chair GSM Europe, signed the Industry Guidelines for the implementation of the 116 000 pan-European hotline number for missing children along with other representatives of the EU telecoms industry. The signature took place in Brussels in the presence of Rudolf Strohmeier, Cabinet of Commissioner Reding.

The Guidelines follow the European Commission’s decision of 15 February 2007 to reserve national numbers starting with ‘116’ for pan-European services of social value and to attribute 116 000 to hotline services for missing children. Co-operation on the part of industry signatories with NGOs, as represented by the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children, was crucial to the success of this initiative. The signatories (GSM Europe, Cable Europe, ECTA and ETNO) have committed to appeal to their member companies to make 116 000 available and operational with minimal delays and to make all necessary interconnection agreements. Charges associated with these calls will follow the established model for national freephone calls.

Go to joint press release
European Industry Guidelines

On 26 March 2007, GSME hosted a Workshop on IP Interconnection. The object of the workshop was to present the findings of the Economic Study on IP Interconnection prepared by CRA International/ Gilbert+Tobin, commissioned by GSM Association. Overall the workshop gave participants a more comprehensive understanding of the issues surrounding IP Interconnection and their implications for mobile operators.

Speakers and panelists included:
Davide Gallino, ERG-Secretary, ERG
Peter Scott, Head of Unit DG INFSO, European Commission
Paul Reynolds, Senior Consultant, CRA International
Peter Waters, Partner, Gilbert+Tobin
Graham Trickey, Senior Director, GSM Association
Steve Jordan, Head of European Regulatory Policy, Telefonica O2 Europe
Dr Jan Krancke, Vice President Regulatory Economics, T-Mobile International
Philippe Defraigne, Director at Cullen International moderated the afternoon session.

On 22 February 2007, GSME held a workshop in Brussels focusing on the growth of mobile content services and DRM. The workshop, which facilitated a public debate with content providers, served to announce a CRA/Gilbert + Tobin study on DRM commissioned by GSME.

The workshop attracted around 60 participants from the European Commission, the Council, Ofcom and the mobile and content industries.

Speakers and panelists included:
Tilman Lueder, Head of Unit for Copyright DG MARKT, European Commission
Paul Reynolds, Senior Consultant, CRA International
Dr Willms Buhse, Executive Director at Core Media
Juhani Kivikangas, Director Content Business Management, TeliaSonera
Chris Marcich, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, MPA
Francisco Mingorance, Director Public Policy EMEA
Tilman Makatsch, Lawyer Public & Regulatory Affairs, T-Mobile
Michèle Ledger from Cullen International moderated the panel discussions around the business/industry perspective and policy implications.

The CRA/Gilbert + Tobin study was well received and speakers from the Mobile Entertainment Forum, the Motion Pictures Association and Business Software Alliance supported its conclusions.

On 6 February 2007, Commissioner Reding held a press conference in Brussels on the occasion of the Safer Internet Day, where representatives from the mobile and content industry signed the European Framework for Safer Mobile Use by Younger Teenagers and Children.

The Framework, which is a GSME-led initiative, puts forward recommendations to ensure that younger teenagers and children can safely access content on their mobile phones. Specific approaches addressed by the Framework include:

• Access control mechanisms
• Classification of commercial content
• Fighting illegal content on the Internet
• Raising awareness and education.

The press conference on 6 February 2007 was widely covered in the press and other media. In her speech, Commissioner Reding praised the mobile industry for the self-regulatory initiative and for working in partnership with the European Commission and NGOs. Kaisu Karvala, Chair GSME, likewise intervened and took questions from the press.

Signatory stakeholders will now work towards the implementation of the Framework through national self-regulation in the Member States. GSME, which is not a signatory, confirmed its commitment to monitor the implementation in a letter sent to the European Commission at the end of January 2007 (GSME letter). Mobile operators encourage other stakeholders to join this effort.

On 23 January 2007, GSME held a successful New Year Reception at the Musée Belvue in Brussels.

Around 180 participants from the European Parliament, the Council, the European Commission and the telecommunications industry attended. Sanjiv Ahuja, CEO Orange, delivered the keynote address, conveying key messages from the industry. Fabio Colasanti (Director General, DG Information Society and Media), Paul Rübig (MEP) and Frank Krüger (Permanent Representation of Germany to the EU) intervened on behalf of the EU institutions.

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