Speaking at the ETNO-MLex conference in Brussels, he said there will be an emphasis on simplification, including the possibility of more co- and self-regulation in order to achieve the aim of a 'gigabit society'. Connectivity remains the key objective of the reform, as part of the EU's broader Digital Single Market policy. The aim is to stimulate operators to invest in faster networks and increased connectivity, while providing regulatory certainty to ensure a return for the investors. Investment is also key to ensuring competition, Viola said. "There can be no competition without investment, these are two sides of the same coin," he said.
The DG noted that the reforms will be focusing particularly on the quality of connectivity delivered. The e-Communications survey just published by the Commission shows that while price is still the most important factor for consumers when it comes to broadband, quality has risen to second place, mentioned by 70 percent of EU residents. Viola hinted that the Commission would be looking at ensuring a minimum speed for connectivity goals, of 20+ Mbps. This is similar to the decision by the FCC to target funding towards broadband of at least 25 Mbps.
The framework review will also look at the role of the various institutions, from national regulators to the Commission, and Viola said he sees a stronger role for Berec, the assembly of EU regulators, to play. For example, Berec missed an opportunity to "speak with one voice" and set an EU standard for virtual access products, resulting in wide range of approaches now being implemented by member states, he said.
Antonio De Tommaso, co-chair of Berec's expert working group on the regulatory framework, agreed that Berec should look at taking on a coordinated set of topics that it deals with. This has started already with the Telecom Single Market legislation passed last year, which represents the first major "challenge" for Berec to show it can participate also in implementing policy, he said. The regulator has been tasked with defining much of the detail of the new roaming and net neutrality regulations in the TSM. Its draft guidelines on enforcement of net neutrality will be released within the next week for public comment, Tommaso said.
Harmonisation of spectrum policy will also be a "very important" part of the regulatory framework review, said Kamila Kloc, deputy head of cabinet for Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip, in a panel discussion. The Commission is intent on sticking to its proposal to free up the 700 MHz band for mobile services by 2020, despite calls from some member states to delay the deadline, she said. Viola noted that this is the third attempt in recent years at spectrum policy reform, and if Europe fails this time, it will miss out on the opportunities offered by the Internet of Things, something the EU cannot afford.
According to Phillip Malloch, Head of Group Public Affairs at Telia, Europe also needs to move faster on opening up sub-700 MHz frequencies, as high-band spectrum will not be enough to realise the full benefits of 5G. The decision at last year's World Radiocommunication Conference only to consider opening up these bands at the next WRC in 2023 is a "lacklustre" approach, given that operators like Telia already plan to start 5G in 2018 and full commercial roll-outs will begin in 2020, he said.
