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Gigabit Infrastructure Act: A global leadership opportunity for the EU?

20-09-2023

Gigabit Infrastructure Act: A global leadership opportunity for the EU?

Watch the recording here



In 2023, the European Commission proposed initiatives like the Gigabit Infrastructure Act, Public Consultation on Future Networks and Business Models for Electronic Communications, and the Call for Evidence on Virtual Worlds. These initiatives aim to improve connectivity policy frameworks and enhance services in Europe.

The European Commission's 2030 Digital Decade Targets aim to ensure that every EU household has access to a fixed gigabit network, and that 5G coverage extends to all populated areas by 2030. Achieving these goals requires the rapid deployment of high-capacity networks (VHCN). According to the European Parliament, a high-quality digital infrastructure based on such high-capacity networks would underpin almost all sectors of a modern and innovative economy.

The Gigabit Infrastructure Act aims at facilitating and stimulating the provision of VHCN. It promotes the joint use of existing infrastructure and enables more efficient deployment of new infrastructure, reducing the time and cost involved in rolling out these networks.

According to industry stakeholders, with its rapid adoption and efforts to preserve national best practices, operators can gain clarity and more timely access to publicly-owned network and non-network facilities, which are increasingly important for 5G.

Join this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to discuss the foundation that supports Europe’s digital ecosystem. Questions to be discussed include:

- To what extent can the EU ensure that the legislation is harmonised while preserving existing best practices?
- How can the EU institutions and regulators surmount the obstacles to harmonising the legislation across the EU 27?
- What steps can policymakers take to safeguard the principle of technology neutrality in the Regulation, in line with the technologically neutral approach taken in the Digital Decade Policy Programme?
- How can the EU and Member States strike the right balance between encouraging private investment and leveraging public funding or state aid?

Supported by:

GIGA Europe

Location

Online

Panellists

Kamila Kloc
Director, Connectivity, DG CNECT, European Commission

Alin Mituta MEP
Rapporteur, Gigabit Infrastructure Act, European Parliament

Emilio Dávila
Digital Transformation Seconded Expert, Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU

Mieke de Regt
Counsellor for Digital & Telecoms, Permanent Representation of Belgium to the EU

Konstantinos Masselos
Chair 2023, BEREC & President, Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT)

Leo-Geert van den Berg
Interim CTO – Executive Director Technology, VodafoneZiggo

Moderator

Jennifer Baker
EURACTIV

Schedule

10:00 – 10:05 Welcome
10:05 – 10:20 Panellist statements
10:20 – 11:25 Discussion and Q&A
11:25 – 11:30 Closing statements

Contact

Síofra Gilmore
siofra.gilmore@EURACTIV.com
+32 222 65 823

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