Presentation to 2016 INCA Conference

1. Connectivity
Towards a European Gigabit Society
INCA Conference: Building Gigabit Britain
London, 19 October 2016

2. 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
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
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Digital Single Market Strategy
Deliverables
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3. Connectivity
Key messages

4. Connectivity
The 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 drivers
should 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

5. Connectivity
Electronic 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

6. Connectivity
Electronic 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

7. Connectivity
WiFi4EU
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

8. Connectivity
WiFi4EU
 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

9. Connectivity
5G 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

10. 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

11. Connectivity
Context
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

12. Connectivity
Context
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

13. Connectivity
Context
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