The European Commission unveiled the consolidated results of public participation concerning the future of the telecommunications sector. These findings will inform the Digital Networks Law currently being drafted in Brussels. Stakeholders highlighted regulatory barriers that impede a truly unified European market and risk fragmenting it further, thereby slowing the rollout of network services by operators. In response, the commissioner responsible for the European internal market signaled a willingness to encourage consolidation among telecom players and to promote cross‑border collaboration. The aim is to build robust, pan‑European infrastructure operators and to develop a new financing model that accelerates the deployment of 5G and fiber networks across Europe.
During a recent public communication, Thierry Breton emphasized that the aim is to empower markets to compete more effectively on a global stage. The message resonated with industry bodies such as the GSMA and ETNO, which welcomed the call and urged for a faster process. They urged swift discussion and timely promotion of the Digital Networks Act to facilitate industry modernization and investment. Source: European Commission.
Observations noted a low yield on traditional investments, extended recovery timelines, and market uncertainties that could deter investment in the sector. Stakeholders argued that funding should flow into the construction of future networks rather than continuing to compress legacy copper infrastructure. Prolonged delays risk weakening the industry and exposing assets to hostile takeovers, according to several market observers. Source: European Commission.
Breton proposed a path toward more efficient operations through market consolidation within member states, alongside support for cross‑border scale that can unlock the full potential of a union‑wide telecommunications market. He also called for regulatory updates to keep pace with technological progress and to streamline the deployment of new technologies. A key focus would be spectrum management, which has historically been used by some governments as a revenue source, potentially diverting funds away from network investments. Source: European Commission.
The commissioner urged industry players, investors, and public authorities to collaborate in identifying and removing barriers to greater network investment and efficiency. He highlighted concerns over the fair sharing of costs among major telecoms and large technology firms and stressed that continued progress would benefit not only the telecom sector but the broader digital economy. Source: European Commission.