Brussels – The European Commission tabled legislative proposals to revamp Europe’s telecoms regulatory framework, presented as part of a broader new strategy to achieve ubiquitous high-speed connectivity across the EU. “The Commission has recognised the need to incentivise a step change in infrastructure investment in order to fulfil the potential of the Digital Single Market” said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA, which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with almost 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem. “Its spectrum policy reform proposals, for example, will help provide the consistency needed to underpin investor confidence. The Commission has also taken steps to reduce some aspects of sector-specific service regulation that are no longer relevant or appropriate in today’s dynamic and converging communications service market”.
“Telecoms markets have changed beyond recognition since the current set of rules was enacted” continued Granryd. “Today’s markets are much broader in scope due to the convergence of digital technologies and services. Improvements to the Commission’s blueprint should focus on further incentivising investment and ensuring that European citizens benefit from a same service/same protection guarantee”.
“Harmonised spectrum – in the right frequencies, at the right time, and under the right conditions – is a prerequisite for enabling the investments needed to deliver 5G leadership. This is not just about what operators need, but about what our society and economy need to allow Europe to make the most of a vital and scarce resource” said Granryd.
The GSMA calls on the Member States and the European Parliament to introduce further improvements to the reform package to achieve a step change in connectivity investment needed to underpin the Digital Single Market.
