The aim is "to facilitate the development of a competitive internal market for mobile satellite services across the Community and to ensure gradual coverage in all Member States", says the text.
Services have to reach at least half of the EU's population in the future
The text of the decision says that no more than 15 MHz for Earth to space and 15 MHz for space to Earth can be assigned to one applicant.
"MEPs and ministers from Member States on the periphery of the EU were very concerned that the selection criteria might favour operators who could only provide a service covering the centre of Europe", said the rapporteur Fiona Hall (ALDE, North East, Liberal Democrat, UK) during the plenary debate in Strasbourg. She stressed that the text on which Parliament, Council and Commission agreed offered "a realistic compromise given the technical and economic constraints that the industry is under".
The new legislation obliges a system operator to cover at least 60% of the EU's overall land area from the time the system starts operating. After 7 years at the latest the mobile satellite service must be provided within all Member States covering at least 50% of their population and 60% of each Member States land area.
Selection should emphasise pan-European coverage
If the demand exceeds the amount of radio spectrum available, the European Commission will select operators following certain criteria. Strong emphasis will be put on pan-European geographic coverage (with 40% weighting). Consumer and competitive benefits, spectrum efficiency and public policy objectives like protection of health, safety and security shall each account for 20% of the eligibility.
