The European Commission asked in February: how does Europe master its digital infrastructure needs? The answer provided in EC’s white paper – strengthen European Telecoms – is flawed and fails to address real needs. In our submission to Commission’s consultation of the white paper, we argue that Europe needs to invest in Public Digital Infrastructure that is designed to protect digital rights and to promote democratic norms and values.
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Executive Advisor | Strategy, Leadership, 5G & beyond | Keynote speaker | Women Leadership Hub co-founder
Interesting news... Telecom operators consolidation is becoming a hot issue in the EU, a kind of prerequisite, in order for it to be able to compete effectively in the global arena by ensuring the necessary network upgrade and expansion investments now and in the years to come. Someone could say that this somehow takes us "back to square one", ie against the much touted in the past market liberalisation as a panacea for bad telecom services (in terms of quality, reach/coverage and price) by state-owned operators who were single market players at the time. It seems like we took a wild ride for a few decades by opening the European operators market, which brought in competition and as a consequence better service and prices to the consumers, but now we realize that we may need to take a step back and be more considerate/prudent on how we go ahead with much needed investment in new technologies, like eg. #5G (full fledged, ie #5GSA and at least midband deployments), as well as #FTTH and #FWA. Especially since other world regions are galloping while we are moving at turtle's pace and this could harm EU's potential for innovation and competitiveness unequivocally. In addition, since becoming #green and #sustainable has also become a true necessity for our survival on this planet, this also calls for avoiding multiplying network infrastructure everywhere, as has been the (inconsiderate?) case during the past decades. Lastly, if we do go for more operator consolidation in the EU (like it already happened decades ago with the vendors with the well known consequences), will it be for the better in the long run and for whom? Many questions, few answers I'm afraid... These are some reflections I'm having since quite some time now and triggered by this latest move, I thought of sharing here in the hope of starting a useful discussion and hear more from what other people may think about this. So be my guest and offer your views and comments; I will be looking forward! 😉
We look forward to supporting European policymakers as they deliver a new legislative initiative, the Digital Networks Act, for reform in this vital market, which underpins the future of Europe as a digital powerhouse.
GSMA and ETNO welcome Letta’s report, call for Member States to support the EC White Paper on digital infrastructure needs
https://www.gsma.com/gsmaeurope
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We look forward to supporting European policymakers as they deliver a new legislative initiative, the Digital Networks Act, for reform in this vital market, which underpins the future of Europe as a digital powerhouse.
GSMA and ETNO welcome Letta’s report, call for Member States to support the EC White Paper on digital infrastructure needs
https://www.gsma.com/gsmaeurope
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Connectivity #networks are crucial at a time of geopolitical risks, fight to climate change and digital transformation. Commissioner Thierry Breton announced yesterday a powerful policy shift with a new "Digital Networks Act". Here is the view of ETNO Association & the GSMA on why this is so important and urgent 👇
ETNO Association and the GSMA welcome 🇪🇺 Commissioner Thierry Breton's call for a “whatever it takes” moment for the future of telecom policy. We support swift action to advance towards a "Digital Networks Act" tackling our sector's challenges (market scale, network investment, strategic autonomy) 👇
GSMA and ETNO welcome announcements on a new “Digital Networks Act”, call for urgent action
etno.eu
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This February, the European Commission published a White Paper on Europe’s digital infrastructure needs. The 40-page document makes references to spectrum, satellites, telecoms consolidation and the peering market, leaving readers puzzled and filled with questions on the actual goal behind the document. The European Commission’s White Paper fails to present a vision for the telecoms sector which includes all its players, such as alternative telecom operators, European businesses, and consumers. The paper is tailored to meet the needs of a select few, to the ultimate harm of all, through the well known threat of network usage fees. https://lnkd.in/eNEgpZ_u
White Paper On Europe’s Digital Infrastructure Needs: Europe’s Open Internet Still At Risk
https://www.project-disco.org
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Everyone wants the European #telco sector to continue thriving, as it is. Action can’t and won’t be urgent now, mainly as the incumbents tried to stealthily build their growth and profits off the backs of others. If we can find a positive, constructive and #pro-innovation #pro-digitisation strategy for the #DigitalNetworksAct, that brings all the digital partners together for growth, then this could be a great success for #Europe. If it’s just another #networkfees #fairshare Trojan Horse in poor disguise, then all of the #online ecosystem and civil society will keep rightfully opposing a cash grab. One sector can’t be subsidised by all others or by consumers. We hope ETNO Association will come with constructive suggestions so that we can work together again on solving real problems #CCIAeurope
ETNO Association and the GSMA welcome 🇪🇺 Commissioner Thierry Breton's call for a “whatever it takes” moment for the future of telecom policy. We support swift action to advance towards a "Digital Networks Act" tackling our sector's challenges (market scale, network investment, strategic autonomy) 👇
GSMA and ETNO welcome announcements on a new “Digital Networks Act”, call for urgent action
etno.eu
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We welcome the recent publication of the European Commission #WhitePaper on the Future of #DigitalInfrastructure. But what is needed to facilitate the necessary investments in digital infrastructure in Europe? Check out Deutsche Telekom’s key recommendations in response to the White Paper below. For a more detailed overview of our position, check out the link in the comments.
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🔴 #TowardsAStrongerInternet: #CENTRPrinciples for the Next #DigitalDecade. 7️⃣ #OnlineContent With this flagship initiative, European #ccTLDs put forward a set of 8 principles for the EU to safeguard the future of the internet, ahead of the #EUelections2024 and based on the increasing legislative attention to the #DNS and its role in the digital ecosystem. Discover our seventh principle 👇 𝙉𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 We’ve seen a proliferation of legislation that directly or indirectly refers to intervention at #internetinfrastructure level as a solution to a range of societal problems, from #intellectualproperty to #childprotection. Side effects of such legislation could have structural ramifications for the infrastructure’s stability. It is essential that legislative impact assessments specifically address these unintended consequences on the stability of the internet infrastructure. EU policymakers must insist on publishing studies that accompany impact assessments of proposed legislation affecting internet infrastructure 👀 Read more about our initiative here: https://lnkd.in/dYkX84Y5
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Great article by New England Connectivity and Telecommunications Association (NECTA) highlighting what can be done to help close the digital divide. Closing the digital divide is an important part of growing the CT economy. #connectivity #economicdevelopment
What’s the most effective way to close the digital divide? The evidence is clear: innovative public-private partnerships must be at the center of plans to allocate federal broadband funding. Learn more about how we can work together to maximize the impact of federal broadband funding: https://lnkd.in/epCNdp9N
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The European Commission proposal to start working on a Digital Networks Act should be an appropriate way forward to set the conditions for European telcos to deliver the secure, future-ready networks European citizens need.
Sowing the seeds of EU Connectivity after Telecom Ministers meeting in León
https://www.telefonica.com/en
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Exciting update from BEREC on the European Commission's White Paper! Contribute to the shaping of Europe's digital future through active participation in the public consultation. Find out more below: #EmpoweringEUConnectivity #DigitalInfrastructure
After the adoption of a White Paper on “How to master Europe's digital infrastructure needs” by the European Commission, BEREC appreciates the opportunity to participate in the public consultation. The document ignites a thorough reflection on the digital infrastructures of tomorrow and on the drivers for their development. Read more in the press release 👉 https://lnkd.in/d9Hziv2e #empoweringEUconnectivity #digitalinfrastructure #pressrelease
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