The Tech Leadership Forum urged EU policymakers to enhance digital competitiveness by simplifying regulations, fostering innovation, and ensuring a level playing field in the tech ecosystem. Industry leaders emphasized addressing outdated regulations, promoting investment attractiveness, and recognizing the importance of scale in achieving market competitiveness. The upcoming Digital Networks Act is seen as a critical opportunity for supporting the telecommunications sector’s growth and resilience.
The Tech Leadership Forum on December 12 highlighted the urgent need for the EU to enhance tech competitiveness. Industry leaders emphasized that successful digital transformation requires strong investments in digital infrastructure, which in turn, necessitates supportive policies. Notably, Alessandro Gropelli, CEO of Connect Europe, asserted that without robust networks, there can be no security or competitiveness in the digital landscape.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Technology Sovereignty, stressed the importance of closing Europe’s “capability gap” by fostering technological growth. She proposed simplifying regulations and prioritizing investments in connectivity, artificial intelligence, and cloud services to promote resilience and digital sovereignty within Europe’s networks.
Key expectations from the new EU competitiveness pact were discussed, with consensus among panelists on the call for simplified regulations and an adaptable competition policy to enhance market scalability. They also advocated for collaborations between public and private sectors to ensure a balanced digital ecosystem.
Industry leaders raised concerns regarding the barriers to technological competitiveness. José María Álvarez-Pallete of Telefónica criticized outdated regulations that hinder investment and innovation in Europe. He urged for reformed competition policies to better support scalability and growth within the tech sector.
Christel Heydemann, CEO of the Orange Group, cited that Europe’s lack of investment attractiveness is tied to cumbersome regulatory procedures, prompting investors to seek opportunities elsewhere. Pekka Lundmark of Nokia further emphasized that over-regulation impedes the growth of financially stable telecom operators crucial for the tech ecosystem.
Pietro Labriola, CEO of TIM, warned against inaction in addressing these challenges, emphasizing the need for a re-evaluation of the current regulatory framework. He highlighted that high investment costs and excessive regulation limit profitability and scale for telecom operators.
Jenny Lindqvist from Ericsson echoed this sentiment; investment return is critical for achieving scale in the competitive digital ecosystem. Both she and Labriola underscored the necessity for a level playing field within adjacent markets to alleviate regulatory discrepancies.
As the EU embarks on a new political cycle, a clear emphasis on investment, competitiveness, and regulatory reform is vital. There is an expectation for policies that foster substantial investments in robust digital infrastructures, regulatory simplifications, and a conducive environment for operator growth and innovation. The Digital Networks Act represents an opportunity to bolster the tech sector’s competitiveness across Europe.
Original Source: www.telefonica.com
