Joint CEO Statement: Europe needs to translate its digital ambitions into concrete actions

We, the CEOs of Europe’s leading telecommunication companies, call on EU policymakers to closely align Europe’s digital ambitions with a supportive policy and regulatory ecosystem.

European Telecom Sector Welcomes Landmark Progress on Digital Service Regulation

Brussels, 25 November 2021 – The European telecommunications industry applauds EU legislators for making progress this week on two key regulatory initiatives that have the potential to reshape the socioeconomic dynamics of digital platform ecosystems.

The recent European Parliament’s vote on the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and today, the Council’s General Approach, pave the way for inter-institutional discussions and final approval of this major piece of legislation, throughout next year.

ETNO holds virtual General Assembly, approves Strategy and Governance for 2022

“A new phase for our sector: we are now a strategic partner for EU institutions and governments”

Brussels, 21 October 2021 – ETNO, the Association representing Europe’s leading telecom operators, has successfully completed its General Assembly, which took place virtually today.

The case for a stronger EU - US partnership

By Lise Fuhr, Director General at ETNO and Wassim Chourbaji, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Europe, Middle East and North Africa at Qualcomm.

2021 has marked a shift in EU - US technology relations. Despite geopolitical headwinds, there is a stronger spirit of collaboration: on everything from semiconductors to automotive, from 5G to green tech. And the launch this autumn of the new Trade & Technology Council (TTC) will bring Europe and the US closer to strategic alignment.

5G disinformation: EU associations go local to spotlight opportunities, debunk myths

Brussels, 21 September 2021 – Since the coronavirus hit Europe in early 2020, 5G disinformation spreading online has provoked more than 288 arson attacks against antennas as well as several episodes of violence against telecom workers across 13 European countries, including 30 attacks in the first three months of this year.

EU telecoms welcome 2030 Policy Programme, call for strong focus on 5G and innovation

Brussels, 15 September 2021 – ETNO, the Association representing Europe’s leading telecom operators, has today welcomed the proposal for a “2030 Policy Programme – Path to the Digital Decade” unveiled by the European Commission. As EU institutions move to advancing the proposal, EU telecom operators call for a strong prioritization of 5G investment and the development of European infrastructures and services.

Why ICT is the real (green) deal for Europe

The case for European tech confidence on climate change

By Luis Neves and Alessandro Gropelli*

Most of us reacted with shock when reading the latest scientific evidence on climate in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which rang the alarm bell on faster global warming and irreversible rise in sea levels. We should not be shocked, in fact, as all the science behind the August 2021 report is known for many years. Most of us were just distracted.

5 tech things not to forget about

By Lise Fuhr, Director General, ETNO

A new, heated tech policy autumn is shaping up also this year. As government, industry and civil society leaders get back to their desks, there are at least five tech policy debates we should not forget about.

Let me be clear: I think that the European Commission got the political priorities right. Their focus is on strengthening Europe’s technology sectors, while addressing the socio-economic issues arising from the transition to a digital-first world. From addressing the power of big tech corporations to fighting disinformation and leading in semiconductors, Europe’s political leaders are pursuing a clear industrial and geopolitical strategy for the first time in many decades.

ETNO and GSMA call for a more equitable and balanced approach towards taxation of the telecommunications sector under the new tax rules proposed by OECD/G20, August 2021

ETNO, GSMA and their members welcome the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework landmark agreement for taxation of the digitalizing economy. However, the industry is concerned that the current proposal fails to recognise the essential contribution of the telecommunications sector to the world’s economies and its key features with respect to investment, tax and regulatory regimes. Moreover, the framework has shifted from its original purpose of levying taxes on digital services in jurisdictions where the customer resides to a broad application that potentially subjects large multinationals within the telecommunications industry, who already pay their fair share of taxes, to double taxation.