Press Releases

GSM Europe welcomes Accession Countries to the European Union

Brussels, Belgium, 4^th May 2004: GSM Europe, the European Interest Group of the GSM Association, today welcomed the ten new member countries of the European Union. The accession of these countries makes the EU the world’s single largest mobile market and provides significant opportunities for industry growth and diversification.

Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia represent some of the fastest growing economies in the world. Mobile communications is identified as a significant contributor to the European economy, and the new EU is now home to some 450 million consumers.

Last year, the European Commission’s ninth report on the implementation of the Telecommunications Regulatory Package identified mobile as one of the main drivers stabilising growth in electronic communications in Europe. The arrival of new operators who will both co-operate and compete will stimulate this market still further.

According to the industry’s preliminary calculations, the estimated net economic benefits from the mobile industry in Europe last year was around 104,8 billion Euros. To put this in perspective, the EU’s annual budget was 98,6 billion Euros. On average, mobile communications constitutes roughly 1% of national GDP.

The accession of these new countries will challenge mobile operators to develop innovative strategies to protect their market share, and will also provide opportunities for partnerships and alliances.

Kaisu Karvala, Chair GSM Europe said: "GSM Europe’s members hope that the enlarged regulatory bodies continue the tradition of supporting deregulation and proportionality. This strategy should be vindicated, as demonstrated by Europe’s position as the most advanced and competitive mobile communications market in the world."

"In a very short time, GSM mobile communications have become a key driver of the European economy. While the GSM operators in the new EU member states have long been at the forefront of GSM development and implementation, this new competitive landscape provides even greater potential for economic success."


About the GSM Association & GSM Europe

For further information:

Liz Macfarlan
Communications Dept
GSM Association
Tel: +44 (0)20 7518 0530
Fax: +44 (0)20 7518 0531
Email: press@gsm.org

Kiki Walravens
Communications Manager
GSM Europe
Tel: +32 15 27 59 06
Fax: +32 15 27 03 21
Email: kwalravens@gsm.org