{"id":14545,"date":"2025-11-19T15:19:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T15:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/europe\/?p=14545"},"modified":"2026-01-05T10:00:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T10:00:52","slug":"telecoms-industry-backs-the-digital-omnibus-as-a-first-step-toward-simpler-smarter-eu-digital-rules-but-calls-for-bolder-ambition-in-further-simplification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/europe\/general\/telecoms-industry-backs-the-digital-omnibus-as-a-first-step-toward-simpler-smarter-eu-digital-rules-but-calls-for-bolder-ambition-in-further-simplification\/","title":{"rendered":"Telecoms industry backs the Digital Omnibus as a first step toward simpler, smarter EU digital rules, but calls for bolder ambition in further simplification"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Brussels, 19 November 2025<\/em>: The GSMA and Connect Europe, the industry associations representing Europe\u2019s telecoms operators, welcome the European Commission\u2019s <em>Digital Omnibus<\/em> package in its intention to deliver on President von der Leyen\u2019s agenda of regulatory simplification and modernisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, while we welcome the easing of unnecessary red tape in certain areas, most notably around cybersecurity, data, GDPR and AI, there remains much more to be done to truly support Europe\u2019s digital ecosystem and allow its core players to focus on continuing to provide the quality of connectivity the continent\u2019s citizens and businesses need and expect. The Commission\u2019s intention to delay the implementation of high-risk AI provisions is sensible, giving industry and authorities the necessary time to develop the harmonised standards the AI Act depends on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The clearest example of regulatory overlap, duplication and asymmetric application to telecoms is the outdated ePrivacy Directive. The Digital Omnibus was a great opportunity to address this that has unfortunately not been taken. As such, there must now be renewed urgency within the Commission to repeal this Directive and integrate its principle of confidentiality of communication into future EU-wide rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Europe\u2019s digital economy is among the most regulated in the world and within that, telecoms operators still face the heaviest obligations. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.connecteurope.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-07\/A%20Simplification%20Agenda%20for%20European%20telecoms%202025%20-%20ADL%20for%20Connect%20Europe.pdf\">complex mix<\/a> of 28 horizontal and sector-specific regulations, translating into 34 distinct obligations across the customer journey of which almost half overlap, should be prioritised in future simplification efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The introduction of single-entry-point for incident reporting could be a good example of a positive move within the Omnibus. However, whereas single-entry points at national level would certainly bring quick and substantial benefits in respect of national specificities, we are afraid that an EU-wide system would entail a much longer and costly setup, with uncertain ultimate effects on reporting burdens. Beside notifications, duplication remains and efforts should now be made to align reporting requirements by streamlining timelines \u2013 otherwise reporting multiple times to a single entity will still be innately burdensome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately the Digital Omnibus is a welcome start but it is important the Commission views it as only the first step, not the final destination. The telecoms industry, led by the GSMA and Connect Europe, looks forward to working with the Commission on continuing to modernise Europe\u2019s digital landscape and building a rulebook that strengthens the continent\u2019s competitiveness, security and technological leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">ENDS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Laszlo Toth<\/strong>, Head of Europe, GSMA, comments: \u201c<em>President von der Leyen tasked her Commission with prioritising simplification as a principal way of improving Europe\u2019s competitiveness. This Omnibus must not be the only measure taken in pursuing simplification in our overburdened digital landscape as there remain many areas of duplication and complexity, in particular the ePrivacy Directive, and addressing these must remain a priority.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Alessandro Gropelli<\/strong>, Director General, Connect Europe, comments: \u201c<em>The European telecom sector is one of the most regulated sectors in the world. We support vigorous and meaningful simplification to boost competitiveness through increased European innovation and improved customer choice<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brussels, 19 November 2025: The GSMA and Connect Europe, the industry associations representing Europe\u2019s telecoms operators, welcome the European Commission\u2019s Digital Omnibus package in its intention to deliver on President von der Leyen\u2019s agenda of regulatory simplification and modernisation. However, while we welcome the easing of unnecessary red tape in certain areas, most notably around [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":14541,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,28],"tags":[],"algolia_discover_type":[],"class_list":["post-14545","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Telecoms industry backs the Digital Omnibus as a first step toward simpler, smarter EU digital rules, but calls for bolder ambition in further simplification - GSMA Europe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/europe\/general\/telecoms-industry-backs-the-digital-omnibus-as-a-first-step-toward-simpler-smarter-eu-digital-rules-but-calls-for-bolder-ambition-in-further-simplification\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Telecoms industry backs the Digital Omnibus as a first step toward simpler, smarter EU digital rules, but calls for bolder ambition in further simplification\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Brussels, 19 November 2025: The GSMA and Connect Europe, the industry associations representing Europe\u2019s telecoms operators, welcome the European Commission\u2019s Digital Omnibus package in its intention to deliver on President von der Leyen\u2019s agenda of regulatory simplification and modernisation. However, while we welcome the easing of unnecessary red tape in certain areas, most notably around [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/europe\/general\/telecoms-industry-backs-the-digital-omnibus-as-a-first-step-toward-simpler-smarter-eu-digital-rules-but-calls-for-bolder-ambition-in-further-simplification\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"GSMA Europe\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gsma\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-19T15:19:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-05T10:00:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GSMA-and-Connect-Europe-comment-on-the-publication-of-the-Digital-Omnibus-.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"628\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"mgalani@gsma.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@GSMA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@GSMA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"mgalani@gsma.com\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Telecoms industry backs the Digital Omnibus as a first step toward simpler, smarter EU digital rules, but calls for bolder ambition in further simplification - GSMA Europe","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/europe\/general\/telecoms-industry-backs-the-digital-omnibus-as-a-first-step-toward-simpler-smarter-eu-digital-rules-but-calls-for-bolder-ambition-in-further-simplification\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Telecoms industry backs the Digital Omnibus as a first step toward simpler, smarter EU digital rules, but calls for bolder ambition in further simplification","og_description":"Brussels, 19 November 2025: The GSMA and Connect Europe, the industry associations representing Europe\u2019s telecoms operators, welcome the European Commission\u2019s Digital Omnibus package in its intention to deliver on President von der Leyen\u2019s agenda of regulatory simplification and modernisation. 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