Developing telecommunications infrastructure requires substantial investments from both public and private sectors. All parties that benefit from robust networks should contribute fairly to sustain and accelerate progress. This understanding frames discussions at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, where industry leaders gather to discuss the future of connectivity.
The European Commission has initiated a landmark step aimed at ensuring large technology platforms help shoulder the cost of the telecommunications networks they rely on. A public consultation was launched to explore mechanisms for fair contribution from major players such as Alphabet, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Netflix toward financing network investments. This move acknowledges that the digital economy increasingly depends on resilient, shared infrastructure and seeks a broader base of funding beyond traditional operators alone. These developments are part of a broader effort to align digital platform gains with the costs of the networks that enable their services.
The Spanish government has urged Brussels to move quickly on the public consultation results, which are expected to be published in May. The aim is to advance the necessary community legislation that would enable technology companies to contribute through network use. The Spanish presidency of the Council of Europe is anticipated to carry forward the plan to approve new regulations in the second half of the year. The overarching goal is to establish a clear financing framework that recognizes the value tech platforms derive from network access and ensures compatible contributions from all sides of the digital ecosystem.
Calviño expressed support for moving forward with a legislative proposal that would establish this financing model at the earliest opportunity. The intention is to ensure that contributions come from all stakeholders, not solely telecommunications operators and government entities, so the benefits of secure networks are shared across the economy.
For years, Europe’s leading telecommunications companies have warned about shouldering billion-dollar investments alone to deploy and upgrade networks. They have called for a regulatory shift within the European Union that would require major digital platforms to contribute a fair share toward the costs of the telecommunications infrastructure they depend on to run their businesses. This perspective aligns with broader calls for a more balanced approach to funding digital transformation, where platform value is linked to the underlying network investments that make such services possible. [Cited attribution: European Commission briefing on digital infrastructure funding]