The current regulatory framework for electronic communications, although successful in the early stages of market liberalisation, has become outdated over the last decade in terms of addressing the structural and economic challenges facing the sector.
As a result, Europe’s digital connectivity infrastructure is falling further behind other developed economies in terms of the availability of the latest technologies, while facing increasing global competition and significant investment shortfalls.
To address this loss of competitiveness, a rethinking of the regulatory framework for digital communications infrastructure and services is needed. Simplifying the framework, reducing the regulatory burden and prioritising speed and agility in investment and innovation must be among the priorities of the European Commission’s action plan, which should be based on the following fundamental principles:
- Competitiveness
- Regulatory simplification
- Fair and balanced relationships in the Internet ecosystem
- Harmonisation/completion of the digital single market, enabling the necessary scale for European operators.
Telefónica advocates for a future Digital Networks Act that should establish a simplified regulatory environment that offers adequate incentives for investment and innovation and supports the implementation of the EU’s strategic vision and objectives for the period 2024-2029.
