The EU’s Council of Ministers has approved the EC’s proposal to allow the 900MHz spectrum to be used for next-generation mobile services. It amends the GSM Directive of 1987, which said the 900MHz spectrum band should be reserved for GSM (Global System for Mobile, originally Groupe Spécial Mobile) mobile phone technology. The new directive allows the 900 MHz band to also be used for other mobile telecoms services, such as UMTS (3G) mobile broadband and 4G LTE, from this October. [Press release]