The European Telecommunications Network Operator (ETNO) has called on big tech companies to fund the rollout of 5G and broadband infrastructure. The plea comes as new data reveals Europe is lagging behind the US and Asia in key areas such as 5G networks, cloud computing, investment and revenue. Ta.
ETNO’s members, which include Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Telecom Italia, are increasingly seeking support from tech giants such as Alphabet’s Google, Amazon, Netflix, Metaplatform and Microsoft. The appeal coincides with the European Commission’s imminent proposals on digital networks and infrastructure, due to be published on 21 February.
Despite a record €59.1 billion ($64 billion) in investment in Europe’s telecoms industry last year, a report commissioned by ETNO from research group Analysis Mason found that 114 networks in Europe It was revealed that only 10 of these networks are 5G standalone networks. This highlights the region’s significant lag in 5G deployment compared to its global counterparts.
The report also noted that Europe has only four edge cloud offers commercialized in 2023, compared to 17 in Asia Pacific and nine in North America. ETNO attributes this disparity to Europe’s lower per capita telecommunications equipment investment and average revenue per user (ARPU) in 2022 compared to South Korea, the United States, and Japan.
ETNO reminded EU regulators of the 2022 Declaration of Principles of Rights and stressed that all actors benefiting from the digital economy should make a “fair and proportionate contribution” to digital network investments. The lobby group stressed that continued debate on this issue will have a significant impact on the long-term strength and investment capacity of the European telecommunications sector.
“The current state of affairs, both in investment and policy, does not allow for the level of innovation sorely needed to sustain growth and achieve open strategic autonomy,” said ETNO Director-General. Lise Fuhr commented. The industry awaits the outcome of this important debate that could shape the future of European telecommunications.
