Proposal for a Regulation on measures to reduce the cost of deploying gigabit electronic communications networks and repealing Directive 2014/61/EU (Gigabit Infrastructure Act)

Author (Corporate)
Series Details COM (2023) 94
Publication Date 23/02/2023
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Summary:

Legislative initiative adopted by the European Commission on 23 February 2023, setting out rules seeking to enable faster, cheaper and more effective rollout Gigabit networks across the European Union (EU).

Further information:

Directive 2014/61/EU - also known as the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive (BCRD) - aimed at facilitating and promoting the roll-out of high-speed electronic communications networks in the EU. Given the fast advances of digital technologies, significant investment is required to keep up with bandwidth demands. As a result, the European Commission's 2020 Communication on Shaping Europe's Digital Future announced a revision of BCRD.

The digital agenda targets on which the BCRD was based have mostly been met, but they have also become obsolete. It is not aligned with the new objectives set out in Directive (EU) 2018/1972, nor with the latest guidance provided by the Council of the European Union on the need for fast and ubiquitous connectivity. In its Digital Compass for 2030, the Commission set updated targets that better correspond to the expected connectivity needs of the future. Those targets were later reflected and refined in the Digital Decade Policy Programme.

The proposed Gigabit Infrastructure Act seeks to address the shortcomings of the BCRD and contribute to the cost-efficient and timely deployment of very high capacity networks (VHCN) to meet the EU's increased connectivity needs. The draft law was adopted by the European Commission on 23 February 2023 as part of a legislative package focusing on connectivity.

Source Link https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2023:94:FIN
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Commentary and Analysis
Politico, 20/02/2023: Big Telco vs. Big Tech: The battle over ‘fair share,’ explained https://www.politico.eu/article/telecom-netflix-tiktok-youtube-fair-share-why-telcos-are-going-at-war-with-big-tech/

News
RTÉ News, 23/02/2023: EU eyes Big Tech as it seeks feedback on who should pay network costs https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2023/0223/1358419-eu-big-tech-consultation/
EurActiv, 23/02/2023: EU Commission launches Connectivity Package with ‘fair share’ consultation https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/eu-commission-launches-connectivity-package-with-fair-share-consultation/
Reuters, 23/02/2023: EU riles Big Tech with telecoms network costs consultation https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-eyes-big-tech-it-seeks-feedback-who-should-pay-network-costs-2023-02-23/
Euronews, 24/02/2023: Brussels launches consultation asking if Big Tech should finance Internet connectivity https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/02/23/poios-8a-plhrwsei-to-logariasmo-twn-newn-diktywn

Official
EUR-LEX: SWD(2023)46: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2023:46:FIN
EUR-LEX: SWD(2023)47: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2023:47:FIN
European Commission: Shaping Europe’s digital future: EU proposes new rules for Gigabit connectivity https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-rules-reduce-cost-high-speed-broadband-deployment
European Commission: Press Release, 23/02/2023: Commission presents new initiatives, laying the ground for the transformation of the connectivity sector in the EU https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_985
European Commission: Questions and Answers: Commission presents new initiatives, laying the ground for the transformation of the connectivity sector in the EU (23 February 2023) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_23_986

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