cept

CEPT, the Conference of European Postal and Telecommunications Administrations, is a regional association of national authorities responsible for postal and telecommunications policy and regulation in Europe. Founded in 1959, its aim is to coordinate policy, promote interoperability, and harmonize technical and regulatory frameworks across member administrations. While closely aligned with European Union regulatory goals, CEPT includes many non-EU countries as part of its wider European ecosystem.

The organization operates through a network of permanent and ad hoc committees and working groups that develop recommendations and reports used by national authorities to shape policy, spectrum management, and market access. A significant functional area is the harmonization of radio spectrum, allowing cross-border services and smoother deployment of mobile and wireless technologies. CEPT also collaborates with international bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and with industry-standard bodies to influence and align European approaches to standards and certification.

A key historical milestone is the establishment of ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) in 1988, created by CEPT to develop European-wide standards for information and communications technologies. ETSI later became an independent standards organization, continuing to work closely with CEPT on standardization and regulatory matters. CEPT’s outputs—primarily Recommendations, Reports, and position papers—are often referenced by national regulators and, in the European context, intersect with EU telecommunications policy and market regulation.

Membership encompasses national administrations from European countries and associated states, coordinating through a central secretariat and regular plenary meetings. The result is a collaborative framework that supports regulatory convergence, spectrum harmonization, and cross-border telecom and postal services across Europe.