This week in European telecom policy, regulators are pushing changes that could reshape the region’s digital infrastructure landscape. The European Commission’s Digital Networks Act took a modest but notable step toward a pan-EU telecoms market by harmonizing spectrum and connectivity rules. The goal is to reduce fragmentation, unlock investment, and make cross-border services more seamless, which has been a long-sought priority for operators and infrastructure players who have struggled with divergent national frameworks.
At the same time, the EU is tightening network security standards with plans to phase out telecom and critical infrastructure gear from so-called “high-risk” suppliers, a move that clearly targets Chinese vendors like Huawei and ZTE to bolster cybersecurity and supply chain resilience. How these policy shifts will affect European vendors and operators, from procurement strategies to network deployment and competition, remains an open question.
Catherine Sbeglia Nin
Managing Editor
RCR Wireless News
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What We're Reading
EU telecoms reform: The European Commission’s Digital Networks Act takes modest steps toward a pan-EU telecoms market by harmonizing spectrum and connectivity rules, aiming to boost investment and cross-border services.
Phase-out of high-risk tech: The European Union plans to phase out telecom and critical infrastructure gear from “high-risk” suppliers, a move widely seen as targeting Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE to strengthen cybersecurity.
Copper network shutdown: German regulators have proposed tying copper network retirements to at least 80% fiber-to-the-home coverage before shutdown, advancing fiber migration while industry stakeholders weigh transition concerns.
Nokia fiber expansion deal: Nokia has been selected by altafiber to support its multi-gigabit network expansion in Ohio and Hawaii, deploying 25G PON, IP routing and optical networking to improve capacity and operations.
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