ConnectivityTowards a European Gigabit Society

INCA Conference: Building Gigabit Britain

London, 19 October 2016

Pillar 2

DIGITAL

ENVIRONMENT

Designing rules which match the pace of technology & support infrastructure development.

Shaping the right environment for digital networks and services to flourish

• Review the audiovisual media framework

• Review online platforms, intermediaries

• Review sharing economy

• An ambitious overhaul of EU telecoms rules

• Reinforce trust and security in digital services

Digital Single Market StrategyDeliverables

ConnectivityKey messages

ConnectivityThe Commission's proposal

3 strategic connectivity objectives for 2025

1. A new Electronic Communications Code to help build future networks

2. WiFi4EU

3. An action plan for 5G

1. All main socio-economic driversshould have access to extremely high - gigabit – connectivity

2. All European households, rural or urban, should have access to connectivity offering a download speed of at least 100 Mbps

3. All urban areas and major roads and railways should have uninterrupted 5G coverage and 5G should be commercially available in at least one major city in each EU Member State by 2020

To be met by 3 main new measures

ConnectivityElectronic Communications Code

• Market regulation only where end-user interest requires it and where operators' commercial arrangements don't deliver competitive outcomes

• Reduced regulation where rival operators co-invest in very high-capacity networks & easier for smaller players to be part of investment projects

• Making investment case more predictable for "first movers" who take the risk to invest in less profitable areas, such as rural areas

• Easier to switch suppliers when consumers are signed up to bundles

• Ensure vulnerable groups (like the elderly or disable people) have the right to affordable internet contracts

Electronic Communications Code

1 Modernisation of current telecoms rules to drive investment

Increased competition and predictability for investments:

Stronger consumer protection

ConnectivityElectronic Communications Code

• Long licence durations, coupled with more stringent requirements to use spectrum effectively and efficiently.

• Coordination of basic parameters such as the timing of assignments to ensure timely release of spectrum to the EU market

• More converged spectrum policies across the EU

• Selected rules extended to new online players which offer equivalent services to traditional operators, to ensure security requirements apply.

Possibility for users to reach the EU emergency number 112 via such online services in the future with now additional costs More

A safer online environment for users and fairer rules for all players:

Better use of radio-frequencies

ConnectivityWiFi4EU

WiFi4EU

2 Free Wi-Fi for Europeans in public spaces

120 million of EU investment for interested local authorities to offer free Wi-Fi in public spaces

At least 6000 to 8000 local communities

49-50 million connections per day

How will it work?

• The EU to fund the equipment & installation with vouchers; public bodies to pay monthly subscription & maintenance

• Local communities need to commit to providing very high speed internet via WIFI4EU, and that they are not competing with a similar, existing private or public Wi-Fi offer

ConnectivityWiFi4EU

Who will benefit?

WIFI4EU access points will reach both local residents and visitors across the EU

All Europeans

Public administrations, hospitals, libraries and other bodies with a public mission

They can take advantage of the access points to develop & promote their own digital services, such as e-government, e-health or e-tourism

Connectivity5G Action Plan

Action plan for 5G

3 Common roadmap for a coordinated deployment of 5G in 2020

Common EU calendar for a coordinated 5G commercial launch in 2020

Joint work with Member States and industry stakeholders to:

Identify and allocate spectrum bands for 5G

Organise pan-European 5G trials as of 2018

Promote common global 5G standards & encourage the adoption of national 5G deployment roadmaps across EU Member States

Connectivity

For more information:

• Commission paves the way for more and better internet connectivity for all citizens and businesses

• Communication – Connectivity for a Competitive Digital Single Market - Towards a European Gigabit Society

• Q&A

• MEMO

ConnectivityContext

What is the situation today?

The internet has transformed our society and our economy and made people's lives easier

Europeans use the internet to

buy products and services

do their banking

read & watch the news

of European enterprises use cloud computing

of European SMEs sell online

ConnectivityContext

EU telecoms rules have brought basic broadband to all Europeans at low prices

Price for 12-30 Mbps broadband has dropped by 57% since 2007

At the same time, internet traffic continues to grow at an unprecedented rate

Global mobile internet & internet traffic 2015- 2020

exabytes

ConnectivityContext

Fixed internet connection

• In 2015, 71% of European households had access to a fast fixed internet connection

• But this goes down to 28% for households in rural areas

4G mobile coverage

• In 2015, the EU average of 4G mobile coverage is 86%

• But this goes down to 36% for households in rural areas

This is not enough to address the growing need for speed, quality and reliability of the infrastructure EU action is needed