{"id":11962,"date":"2024-02-01T12:57:05","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T12:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/europe\/?p=11962"},"modified":"2024-05-29T14:43:07","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T13:43:07","slug":"joint-statement-gia-negotiations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/europe\/news\/joint-statement-gia-negotiations\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint Statement: European telecommunications operators are united in voicing strong concerns regarding the current GIA negotiations"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Brussels, February 1st, 2024<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 The EU telecommunications industry is united in voicing strong concerns<\/a> around the ongoing \u201cGigabit Infrastructure Act\u201d Regulation negotiations and warns of unintended consequences if proposals are implemented in their current form.<\/p>\n

The European Commission originally intended for this Regulation to provide a way to reduce the cost and time of 5G and gigabit network roll-out. Instead, current negotiations risk turning it into a measure that penalises telecoms operators, without producing any real benefit in terms of administrative simplification.<\/p>\n

Key measures that would help speed up network roll-out are now being placed into doubt. These include so-called \u2018tacit approvals\u2019, which allow fibre installation when construction permits are not granted within a reasonable timeframe.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the historic effort to invest in 5G and fibre across the EU will be undermined by proposals of aggressive and unjustified price regulation in competitive markets for intra-EU communications, without any impact assessment or evidence of market failure.<\/p>\n

The provision of digital networks is not solely the concern of telecom companies: they are critical for the prosperity of the whole of Europe, providing the backbone of a modern, efficient and sustainable economy for European citizens.<\/p>\n

Unless the original spirit of the European Commission proposal is preserved, the EU telecom industry believes that retaining current rules would be less damaging to network roll-out than implementing an ill-conceived Regulation. This risks leaving a damaging legacy on our sector under the remaining EU mandate.<\/p>\n

For more information please contact:<\/h5>\n\n
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