Europe is leading the momentum: in 2025, we counted 57 #OpenRAN trials, deployments and commercial launches — much ahead of any other regions.
Scaling takes time, but more telecom operators are now planning deployments by 2030.
More in #StateofDigi 2026: bit.ly/stdig26
That matters because #OpenRAN can:
🟤 Increase interoperability and reduce lock-in
🟢 Strengthen supply chain diversity
🟣 Accelerate innovation through software-based RAN
🔵 Support more flexible, virtualised deployments over time
📡 #OpenRAN is one of the biggest shifts in how #radionetworks are built: it makes a concrete contribution to addressing dependencies and to growing the #5G ecosystem in Europe.
🧵Why does that matter?
🇪🇺🇰🇷 A pleasure to meet the Korea telecom association KTOA last week: as Europe debates the future of its #telecom framework, international dialogue with a global leader in advanced #connectivity — helps shape the policy direction needed to strengthen innovation, scale and competitiveness.
How are #telcos contributing to Europe’s AI infrastructure?
Deutsche Telekom's VP EU Affairs Jakob Greiner explains how their 🆕 industrial #AICloud is expanding AI compute capacity in Germany by 50% — while reinforcing Europe´s #digitalsovereignty.
▶️ Watch & read more: telekom.com/en/media/med...
🎦 Which policy highlights from #MWC26? Step out of the policy bubble and into the reality of #telecom innovation. European operators and vendors show how #connectivityEU underpins AI, security, defence and resilient #digital infrastructure. Hear more from our Director General Alessandro Gropelli ⬇️
Europe is pushing #OpenRAN forward: in 2025 we counted 57 trials, deployments and commercial launches. It’s a key step towards more interoperable networks.
Now the challenge is turning pilots into scalable, repeatable rollouts. More in #StateofDigi 2026: bit.ly/stdig26
In many digital and network markets, companies compete by improving quality and investing ahead of demand — not only by cutting prices. That’s why merger reviews need a wider lens. A report prepared by BRG sets out a practical way to do that. buff.ly/2qZKMJI #MWC26 #MWC26MP #EUCompetition
🔐 Sigvart Voss Eriksen, EVP & Head of Telenor Nordics, says security and resilience are critical priorities for his company. You can check Telenor's newly launched report: buff.ly/yf0OnT4
🎥 Watch the interview we recorded at #MWC26 #MWC26MP 👇
🇪🇺 Europe’s #connectivity markets remain uniquely fragmented: in 2025, Europe counted 44 mobile operators with more than 500K subscribers (vs 8 in the 🇺🇸).
Scale is the unresolved challenge. Check out #StateofDigi 2026: bit.ly/stdig26 #MWC26 #MWC26MP #EUCompetition
At #MWC26, @telefonica-en.bsky.social will show how #connectivity becomes intelligence:
🚁Mission-Critical Dome — private 5G + satellite + drones/robots
📶Titan Connect — AI-slicing
⚛️Quantum Telco — quantum-safe
🗣️CircuitX & AI demos — real-time translation
Read ⬇️
The EU is reviewing its merger guidelines — a big deal for markets where competition is driven by investment and innovation, not only short-term prices.
A new report prepared by BRG sets out how merger review can reflect long-run consumer outcomes too: buff.ly/2qZKMJI #MWC26 #MWC26MP #EUCompetition
Equity Research Director at Barclays Mathieu Robillard tells us why #EUMerger control should also consider investment capacity, sustainability, and Europe’s sovereignty—especially in #telecoms. Read the BRG report: buff.ly/2qZKMJI #MWC26 #MWC26MP #EUcompetition
Connect Europe joins the GSMA to respond to recent claims that EU #telecom profitability is “good news”. Experts warn that:
🔵Average figures mask sub-scale operators
🟢Goodwill cannot be ignored
⚫️Dividends signal weak investment prospects
Read:
Most early #5G in Europe has been “non-Standalone”: faster speeds, but still relying on a #4G core. The real leap is #5GStandalone, with a native 5G core that enables network slicing, ultra-low latency and massive IoT at scale.
More in #StateofDigi 2026: bit.ly/stdig26
🎬Rupert Wood (Analysys Mason) previews the #StateofDigi 2026 findings: Europe is lagging behind its peers on #5G coverage, #5GStandalone & take-up, even as fixed #fibre coverage edges ahead of 🇺🇸.
Take a look at our report analysing the state of the #telecom sector: bit.ly/stdig26
📉 The revenue–investment chain is weak: mobile revenues are the same as 10 years ago, but costs keep rising.
🏦 Policy reform is now central — including the #DigitalNetworksAct, the review of #EUMerger guidelines, the #CybersecurityAct & a bolder industrial policy approach.
📶 5G: Europe is at 97% population coverage on basic #5G, but adoption and #5GStandalone still lag global peers.
🏠 Gigabit: #FTTH coverage is 77.2%; our members account for 54% of FTTH investment — yet 41.8 million Europeans (10%) could remain unconnected by 2030 at today’s pace.
At today's #FutureConnectivityEU, our DG Alessandro Gropelli presented our annual #StateofDigi report, providing a snapshot of Europe’s telecom landscape and what it means for competitiveness:
🫰 The Digital Communications Ecosystem is worth around 5% of Europe’s GDP (€1.09 trillion)
📲 Europe’s #digital economy is at a turning point — and reform cannot wait.
Heavy regulation & persistent fragmentation undermine #telecom investment. If we want future-proof #connectivity, we need action now.
Read #StateofDigi 2026 👇 connecteurope.org/news/decisiv... #FutureConnectivityEU
Telcos can support the 🇪🇺 Action Plan to counter #drone threats: we already provide tower-based detection, #5G-enabled tracking, anti-drone capabilities and real-time traffic management to keep citizens, infrastructure & public spaces safe.
Read more here: connecteurope.org/news/eu-dron...
⚖️ We support a balanced approach to pro-competitive effects and efficiencies, taking into account future innovation, investment, competitiveness, resilience, security and defence-readiness
🗞️ Read our press release here: buff.ly/PTGWfZJ
📚 We agree with DG COMP that the new approach should be rigorous: the BRG study is our contribution to provide thoroughly researched tools.
📊 We call for a more long-term and forward-looking assessment, with a better focus on strategic investment and longer payback periods.
At yesterday’s presentation of the BRG report, our DG Alessandro Gropelli made a pledge to reform #MergerReview at the same time as we work to complete the #EUSinglemarket:
💡 No two-step approach, geopolitical rivarly and tech change requires urgent reform.
Europe can turbocharge growth with merger rules that take the long view: Merger decisions shape innovation, investment & the ability to scale — delivering better quality, choice and long-term outcomes for consumers.
For #connectivity, this is crucial. Read the new BRG report: buff.ly/7y4m1m5
🏘️ Realign fibre incentives to #Draghi to deliver #FTTH
⚖️ Cut duplicate rules that only raise costs
🤝 “Same service, same rules” + mandatory arbitration
The @europarl.europa.eu is already active on the #DigitalNetworksAct. Our DG @gropelli.bsky.social shared the sector’s top views at last week’s European Internet Forum´s event:
🚀 Strong support for DNA objectives + #spectrum measures: #5G for all, prepare for #6G
🎥 Our DG Alessandro Gropelli shares @connecteurope.org
's first reaction to the #DigitalNetworksAct: positive steps on #spectrum, but more ambition needed on incentives, simplification & a level playing field with big tech to strengthen Europe’s #digital competitiveness 👇 vimeo.com/1156956086?r...
Europe needs a more ambitious #DigitalNetworksAct on investment, simplification & the #EUSinglemarket.
The European Commission draft recognises #connectivity for competitiveness and #techsovereignty, but the measures fall short of the Draghi & Letta proposals 👇 connecteurope.org/news/digital...
