Telecoms groups urge lighter regulation

Some of the world's leading mobile phone operators and telecoms equipment manufacturers have written to G20 leaders urging them to better enable the industry to help pull countries out of recession. Companies including AT&T, Bharti Enterprises, Nokia, Telefónica and Vodafone said in a letter to G20 leaders that governments must deliver a less intrusive regulatory environment for the telecoms industry. They also called on governments to ensure that mobile operators secure 25 per cent of the radio spectrum made available by the switchover from analog to digital spectrum, so that wireless broadband services can be expanded.