Brochures
Telecom policy and regulatory landscape in the European Union
Recognizing a lag in its telecom sector compared to global leaders like the United States and Asia-Pacific regions, the European Union (EU) shifted its policy to defragment the European telecommunications market. The European Commission introduced directives to foster a robust digital economy that benefits consumers and businesses. This included ambitious goals under the Gigabit Society strategy to ensure widespread access to very high-capacity networks (VHCN), targeting universal connectivity of at least 30Mbit/s for all Europeans and aiming for 50% of households to achieve 100Mbit/s or more by 2020.
Funding has been allocated through EU mechanisms, including the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) with an investment of EUR 1.05 billion and CEF2 with EUR 3 billion for the 2021-2027 period. Additional funds from the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) and national programs further bolster these initiatives. The regulatory framework is supported by EU bodies, such as the Council of the European Union, European Commission and specialized agencies like the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC). These ensure the consistent application of EU law and coordinate policies across states to streamline the deployment of telecom infrastructure.
Explore our brochure to discover the role BEREC plays in this ecosystem by assisting in the implementation of EU telecom rules, offering guidance on regulatory matters and ensuring a harmonized approach. Learn why the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) is a cornerstone of EU telecom regulation and how it sets forth directives to enhance connectivity and foster internal markets. Read about member states’ efforts to incorporate directives into national law, with varying degrees of progress across the union, and find out why Europe, fueled by policy decisions and regulatory changes, is set to revamp its digital infrastructure and successfully launch member states into the digital era.