European “Super Regulator”: it is in the air!

The very active EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding is launching the idea to seize regulatory control over countries' telecom sector. This idea implies that national regulators should give up powers to a new European central power. Additional bureaucracy or more efficient process? The move should come at the expense of local regulators which would loose power, of course. The idea is obviously strongly opposed by national regulators and telcos.

In fact, the question behind, is which type of European telecom market we want for the future? Single and harmonized among the 25 states, or always balkanized with local decision against the others. Recent announcements and position from some telco/ national regulator/ government (i.e. broadband network debate) could be the incentive that forced the EU Commission to show muscles.