Countries across Europe should use the same radio spectrum to broadcast mobile broadband services, it has been proposed.

The European Union (EU) has claimed such platforms should be "harmonised" on the 790-862 MHz sub-band, which will be freed as part of the "digital dividend" plans, so the technology can be standardised and benefit from improved efficiency.

It is also hoped that such a move would help the continent achieve its target of 100 per cent high-speed broadband availability by the end of 2013.

Viviane Reding, the EU commissioner for information security and media, said: "The digital dividend is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make 'broadband for all' a reality all over Europe and boost some of the most innovative sectors of our economy."

She added: "Europe will only make the most of the digital dividend if we work together on a common plan."

In a recent interview with PC Pro, Informa analyst Dimitris Mavrakis suggested that current mobile broadband technology in use in the UK may begin to feel the strain as levels of data traffic rise.