3G Mobile: The Push to Wireless Data across Europe

As governments and firms rush to third generation ‘3G’ mobile telecommunications, this article considers three key problems: the conflict over 3G standards, which pits European GSM equipment against a US group; the patchwork of 3G regulation across Europe; and the mechanism for awarding licences. The authors argue that the auction mechanism is far preferable for consumers to ‘beauty contests’ but that other countries still to award licences could improve on the UK design.