Ireland 2026: Shaping Europe’s Connectivity Future

On behalf of the GSMA and Telecommunications Industry Ireland, industry associations representing both the European and Irish mobile sectors, we are honoured to invite you to join the high‑level event “Ireland 2026: Shaping Europe’s Connectivity Future”, organised to mark the incoming Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Following high‑level reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi, which recognise the European mobile industry as a strategic enabler of competitiveness, policymakers across the EU are increasingly focused on creating the right conditions for a truly unified European telecommunications market.

As Ireland prepares to assume the EU Presidency, telecoms policy – including the proposed Digital Networks Act – will be among the key priorities. In this context, the GSMA and Telecommunications Industry Ireland, on behalf of their members, are convening Irish industry leaders alongside EU institutional representatives for a timely and open discussion on the future of Europe’s connectivity landscape and the role the Presidency can play in advancing it.

Programme

14:30 | Welcome and registration

15:00 | Opening
Welcome Address: Nicola Cooke, Telecommunications Industry Ireland
Industry Keynote: Vivek Badrinath, Director General, GSMA
Ministerial Keynote: Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Ireland
Keynote: Michał Kobosko, Member of the European Parliament and the DNA Rapporteur

15:35 | CEOs Panel | Telecommunications: Europe’s Strategic Infrastructure for Growth and Competitiveness
• Oliver Loomes, CEO, eir Ireland
• Elaine Carey, CEO, Three Ireland and Chairperson of Telecommunications Industry Ireland
• Tony Hanway, CEO, Virgin Media Ireland
• Sabrina Casalta, CEO, Vodafone Ireland

16:25 | Networking break

16:55 | Europe’s Connectivity DNA: Getting the Digital Networks Act Right

• Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Member of the European Parliament
• Robert Mourik, Commissioner, ComReg and BEREC Vice Chair
• Patrick Neary, Assistant Secretary Telecommunications and Digital Connectivity, Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Ireland
• Ben Wreschner, Group Regulatory Policy Director, Vodafone
• Jakob Greiner, Chair of the GSMA Policy Group Europe and VP of European Affairs, Deutsche Telekom

17:45 | Closing remarks

18:00 | Evening Networking Reception

Event Moderator: Jennifer Baker, Presenter and Reporter

We look forward to welcoming you to this important event dedicated to shaping Europe’s digital and connectivity future.