The CEOs of Europe’s leading telecoms operators have called on the European Union to speed up regulatory changes, enabling them to invest more in infrastructure.
In a letter, seen by TelecomFinance and addressed to European Council president Donald…
The CEOs of Europe’s leading telecoms operators have called on the European Union to speed up regulatory changes, enabling them to invest more in infrastructure.
In a letter, seen by TelecomFinance and addressed to European Council president Donald Tusk, the incumbents asked the EU’s top politicians to “express support for a pro-investment policy approach that translates into fast and concrete actions”.
The lobbying effort comes ahead of the European Council’s next meeting on 25 June.
The executives said leading financiers recognised regulation as the “single most important driver” for investment in the sector, adding that the EU is home to the harshest regulatory environment, according to HSBC research.
Focusing on fast-tracking reforms, the operators requested changes to access regulation and spectrum management, as well as a levelling of the playing field between telcos and OTT service providers.
Many of these measures will be addressed through the Digital Single Market legislation. The proposals, announced in May, have come under criticism for being vague.
Operators would like regulators to lift certain burdens, following changes in markets, consumer habits and disruptive new entrants from the US technology space.
The letter was signed by Tim Hoettges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom; Eelco Blok, CEO and chair of KPN; Stephane Richard, CEO and chair of Orange; Armando Pereira, chair of Portugal Telecom; Dominique Leroy, CEO of Proximus; Urs Schaeppi, CEO of Swisscom; Cesar Alierta, executive chair and CEO of Telefonica; Hannes Ametsreiter, the outgoing CEO of Telekom Austria; Marco Patuano, CEO of Telecom Italia; Jon Fredrik Baksaas, president and CEO of Telenor; and Johan Dennelind, president and CEO of TeliaSonera.
