20.10.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 274[25 DIRECTIVES DIRECTIVE 2009/114/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 September 2009 amending Council Directive 87/372/EEC on the frequency bands to be reserved for the coordinated introduction of public pan-European cellular digital land-based mobile communications in the Community (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE mobile cellular communications in the Community EUROPEAN UNION, (GSM) (%), recognised the need to use the resources offered by modern telecommunications networks to the full, in particular mobile radio, in the interests of the economic development of the Community. The unique opportunity offered by the move to the second Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European generation cellular digital mobile communications Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof, system in order to establish truly pan-European mobile communications has also been recognised. Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, (2)  The 890-915 MHz and 935-960 MHz frequency bands were reserved for a public pan-European cellular digital mobile communications service to be provided in each Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Member State in accordance with a common specifi- Social Committee ('), cation, known as GSM. Subsequently the so-called extension band (880-890 MHz and 925-935 MHz) became available for GSM operation, and together these frequency bands are known as the 900 MHz band. Having consulted the Committee of the Regions, (3)  Since 1987, new digital radio technologies capable of Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in providing innovative pan-European electronic communi- Article 251 of the Treaty (%), cations have been developed, which can coexist with GSM in the 900 MHz band in a more technologically neutral regulatory context than before. The 900 MHz band has good propagation characteristics, covering greater distances than higher frequency bands and allowing modern voice, data and multimedia services to be extended to less populated and rural areas. Whereas: (1) Council Directive 87/372[EEC (}), complemented by Council Recommendation of 25 June 1987 on the coor- dinated introduction of public pan-European cellular (4 In order to contribute to the objectives of the internal digital land-based mobile communications in the market and of the Commission Communication of Community () and by Council Resolution of 1 June 2005 entitled 2010 initiative — A European 14 December 1990 on the final stage of the coordinated Information Society for growth and employment’, while introduction of pan-European land-based public digital maintaining the availability of GSM for users throughout Europe, and to maximise competition by offering users a (') Opinion of 25 February 2009 (not yet published in the Official wide choice of services and technologies, the use of the Journal). 900 MHz band should be available to other technologies (?) Opinion of the European Parliament of 6 May 2009 (not yet for the provision of additional compatible and advanced published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 27 July 5009 pan-European services that would coexist with GSM. () OJ L 196, 17.7.1987, p. 85. (*) OJ L 196, 17.7.1987, p. 81. (°) O] C 329, 31.12.1990, p. 25.