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The EU has set out ambitious connectivity targets for the year 2030. Amongst the goals are reaching gigabit speed for everyone and ensuring 5G coverage everywhere. European telecom operators have invested over €500bn in fixed and mobile networks over the past 10 years but meeting the EU Digital Decade targets will require an even greater investment effort. At the same time, data traffic has surged driven by video streaming.

The Decision establishing the 2030 Policy Programme ‘Path to the Digital Decade’ and the Declaration on digital rights and principles commit the EU to “developing adequate frameworks so that all market actors benefiting from the digital transformation assume their social responsibilities and make a fair and proportionate contribution to the costs of public goods, services and infrastructures, for the benefit of all Europeans”.

In recent months, a heated debate has emerged on whether the major providers of online content should contribute to the costs of digital networks and whether EU regulatory intervention would be appropriate. The European Commission is expected to conduct a public consultation on the future of connectivity, including the above-mentioned ‘fair contribution’, early this year.

This EIF event will discuss options to achieve the EU’s connectivity targets and various views on the ‘fair contribution’ debate, with insight from experts representing the whole digital ecosystem.

  • Programme

    Opening remarks

    Adriana Maldonado MEP and EIF Member

    Speakers

    Carlota Reyners Fontana, Head of Unit 'Electronic Communications Policy', DG CONNECT, European Commission

    Juan Montero Rodil, Chief Public Policy, Competition and Regulatory Officer, Telefonica S.A.

    Julia Maxwell, speaking on behalf of the VOD Coalition; Vice-President of Regulatory, Public Affairs and Corporate Compliance at Viaplay Group

    Cl?udio Teixeira, Digital Rights Legal Officer, BEUC

    Exchange of views with the participants under the Chatham House rule

Practical information

11 January 2023 17:00 - 18:30

Arts 56
Avenue des Arts 56
1000 Brussels
Belgium

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Speakers

  • Adriana Maldonado MEP, EIF Member
  • Carlota Reyners Fontana Head of Unit 'Electronic Communications Policy' DG CONNECT, European Commission
  • Juan Montero Rodil Chief Public Policy, Competition and Regulatory Officer Telefonica S.A.
  • Julia Maxwell VOD Coalition
  • Cláudio Teixeira Digital Rights Legal Officer BEUC

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