EU 'resists' lighter regulation calls

The European telecommunications industry does not need lighter regulation, according to the EU's telecoms commissioner.

Viviane Reding told attendees at a European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO) event that many in the sector had asked her to relax or completely remove regulation as the financial crisis has unfolded, reports Reuters.

However, she felt that the world's economic problems had increased the argument for, not against, regulation.

"There is a very interesting lesson from the ongoing financial crisis for the overall perception of regulation," the news provider quoted her as saying.

"It is certainly not over-regulation that has caused the financial crisis."

However, ETNO members said in a statement that they were "concerned" that the downturn could create a "new wave" of regulation, which would cause problems for the telecoms industry as it already had a large amount compared to other sectors.

They cited the recent example of a move to reduce EU mobile termination rates to a lower level than costs.

"If this trend continues, it risks pushing the ICT sector into an economic downturn further deepening the recession of our global economy," the statement read.