Quarrels begin over plans to harmonize EU-wide telecoms mark

"To achieve this, the EC says it is necessary to establish an EU-level spectrum authorization framework, rather than leaving this at national level. It also wants to make mandatory a Europe-wide phase out of copper networks in favor of fiber, with a deadline between 2030 and 2035."

"It also proposes a voluntary cooperation mechanism between connectivity providers and other players such as content, application, and cloud providers to "facilitate dialogue on technical and commercial arrangements." The latter has aroused the ire of the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), which accuses the EC of implementing a backdoor policy to allow telcos to charge network access fees."

Proposed Digital Networks Act aims to harmonize telecom regulation across the EU to create a single market and stimulate investment in modern networks. The EC proposes an EU-level spectrum authorization framework and a mandatory Europe-wide phase-out of copper in favor of fiber between 2030 and 2035. The proposal includes a single authorization for satellite services to support direct-to-device communications and a voluntary cooperation mechanism between connectivity providers and content/application/cloud players to facilitate technical and commercial dialogue. Industry bodies warn the cooperation mechanism could enable telcos to extract network access fees. The EC frames regulatory modernization as a way to reduce administrative burden and redirect resources toward investment.

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