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| photo: Shutterstock |
The European Commission has just adopted
technical rules on how the 900 and 1800 MHz
radio frequency bands should be opened up to
advanced fourth generation (4G) communication
devices, according to a press release issued
on 18 April 2011. The rules aim to prevent interference
problems with existing GSM and 3G
devices, and are an important step in bringing
wireless broadband access to more citizens
and businesses in the European Union (EU).
The Commission’s decision, which must be implemented
by EU Member States by the end of
2011, is expected to help to achieve the targets
of the Digital Agenda for Europe to give every
European access to basic broadband by 2013
and fast and ultra fast broadband by 2020.
Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European
Commission for the Digital Agenda, said in a statement
that “the decision opens the way for the latest 4G mobile
devices to gain access to the radio spectrum they
need to operate, and so further stimulate high-speed
broadband services and foster more competition.”
The decision forms part of the Commission’s efforts
to ensure that wireless communications gain access to
the radio spectrum they require to develop their full
potential. In particular, the Commission’s decision sets
out technical parameters allowing for the coexistence
on the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands of
GSM (2G mobile phones), 3G systems that add mobile
Internet to regular phone services and 4G mobile technology
delivering high-speed broadband.
The decision sets up a mechanism for the adoption
of technical harmonization rules based on input received
from national radio frequency experts. National administrations
have until 31 December 2011 to implement
the decision in their national rules so that GSM bands
are effectively made available for Long-Term Evolution
(LTE) and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave
Access (WiMAX) systems. Based on the Commission’s
first steps to open the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands in
2009, EU Member States have already had to examine
competition between mobile operators and to address
distortions of competition.
Technical studies undertaken in 2009 demonstrated
that LTE and WiMAX could safely coexist with the other
systems already using the same bandwidth. These studies
also clarified the technical conditions under which
the systems using the 900 and 1800 MHz bands can
protect systems in neighbouring frequency bands, such
as GSM for railways and aeronautical services, from interference.
Member States are obliged to give appropriate
protection to systems in adjacent frequency bands.
Source: European Commission.
Many children using social networks are unaware of privacy risks, says survey
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Children’s use of social networking sites by country and age |
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Question: Do you have your own profile on a social networking site that you
currently use, or not?
Base: All children who use the Internet. |
In the European Union (EU), 77 per cent of 13–16 year
olds and 38 per cent of 9–12 year olds have a profile on
a social networking site, according to a pan-European
survey carried out for the European Commission. Yet a
quarter of children who use social networking sites such
as Facebook, Hyves, Tuenti, Nasza-Klasa SchuelerVZ,
Hi5, Iwiw or Myvip say that their profile is set to “public”,
meaning that everyone can see it. Many of these
profiles display the user’s address or phone number.
These figures highlight the importance of the European
Commission’s upcoming review of the implementation
of the Safer Social Networking Principles for the
EU. Children’s safety online is an important part of the
Digital Agenda for Europe. In 2009, major social networking
companies agreed to implement measures to
ensure the online safety of children under 18.
Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European
Commission for the Digital Agenda said: “Growing
numbers of children are on social networking sites but
many are not taking all necessary steps to protect themselves
online. These children are placing themselves in
harm’s way, vulnerable to stalkers and groomers. All
social networking companies should therefore immediately
make minors’ profiles accessible by default only to
their approved list of contacts and out of search engines’
reach. And those companies that have not yet signed
up to the EU’s Safer Networking Principles should do
so without delay so as to ensure our children’s safety.”
A survey of 25 000 young people in 25 European
countries, published in April 2011 by the EUKidsOnline
network, shows that 38 per cent of 9–12 year olds say
they have a profile on social networking sites, ranging
from 70 per cent in The Netherlands to 25 per cent in
France. In this age group, 15 per cent say they have
more than 100 contacts on their profile, with a high of
47 per cent in Hungary. Social networks are even more
popular among teenagers with 77 per cent
of 13–16 year olds saying they have a profi
le (see chart).
A quarter of children on social networking
sites say their profile is open to the public.
One fifth of children whose profile is
public say this profile displays their address
or phone number. In 15 out of 25 countries,
9–12 year olds are more likely than
13–16 year olds to have public profiles.
Only 56 per cent of 11–12 year olds say
they know how to change privacy settings
on their social network profile. Teenagers
have better skills, with 78 per cent of
15–16 year olds saying they know how to
change their privacy settings.
The Safer Social Networking Principles
for the EU is a self-regulatory agreement
signed by social networking companies
in which they commit to implement a series
of measures on their services in order
to ensure the safety of children online.
Signatories currently include: Arto, Bebo,
Facebook, Giovani, Hyves, IRC Galleria,
MySpace, Nasza-Klasa, Netlog, One.lt,
Rate, SchuelerVZ, Tuenti and Zap. Some of
the social networking sites that are popular
among youngsters in Europe are not
signatories to the Safer Social Networking
Principles.
Source: European Commission.
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