WASHINGTON-The Clinton administration this week is expected to respond again to the European Commission’s plan to deploy third-generation mobile phone service in all 15 member states, using technology favored by Finland’s Nokia Corp. and Sweden’s L.M. Ericsson.
The White House fears American-made wireless technology (Code Division Multiple Access, or cdma2000) effectively could be locked out of Europe as a result of licensing decisions dictated by EU industry policy.
Over the past 18 months, the United States and the EU have had numerous diplomatic exchanges on 3G and its trade implications.
The EU does not deny it intends to have a pan-European 3G system based on wideband CDMA technology, but insists other licensing opportunities will be made available for competing 3G technologies.
The letter, to be sent by Commerce Secretary William Daley and U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, is expected to reiterate the administration’s desire that EU wireless licensing reflect 3G standard-setting by the International Telecommunication Union.
