Pascal Lamy, a former European commissioner and head of the World Trade Organization, will on Monday (13 January) be given a role advising the European Commission on how Europe’s spectrum allocation should be divided between the competing demands of television broadcasting and mobile broadband.

Lamy, who will head a group of executives from the broadcasting and internet sectors, will in July present his thoughts on how to best allocate spectrum over the coming decades.

Consumer demand for broadband internet and online TV has rocketed, placing great strain on existing arrangements for the ultra-high frequency spectrum band, which is used to transmit television, radio and mobile broadband internet, among other things. 

Neelie Kroes, the European commissioner for the digital agenda, says the appointment is necessary because of changes in the way that people watch television.

One reason why the Commission needs to act is because the use of spectrum in one member state can have an effect on spectrum in neighbouring countries.

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The consequent uncertainty among the industry is holding back investment in infrastructure and services, according to the Commission.