State of play, main conclusions, outlook

EU rules on high-speed broadband network deployment (Directive 2014/61/EU) aim to enable synergies within different types of networks (telecoms, energy, transport, water, etc.) across the EU in order to reduce the related deployment costs.

This initiative will review the rules in light of technological, market and regulatory developments. The revised instrument should:

• foster a more efficient and fast roll-out of very high capacity networks, including fibre and 5G;

• strengthen and maximise the potential of the current measures;

• complement and ensure alignment with the European Electronic Communications Code (Directive 2018/1972/EU);

• contribute to the environmental sustainability goals, in particular reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Commission has carried out several consultation activities: the consultation on the roadmap/inception impact assessment in June 2020, the public consultation from December 2020 until March 2021, the workshops organised in January and February 2021, and the opinion delivered by the Body of European Regulators for electronic communications (BEREC) in March 2021.