Juncker adds funding to 5G plans
Having previously outlined 5G action plans, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has announced an increase in funding for the project.
The 5G project plans to enable free Wi-Fi in public spaces in every town and village in EU member states, and to achieve “full deployment” of 5G by 2025.
Juncker said: “The commission is proposing a reform for our European telecommunications markets. We want to create a new legal framework that attracts and enables investments in connectivity.”
However, some stakeholders thought the address fell short on detail and determination to create the new spectrum framework which will be a key enabler of 5G profitability.
Vodafone Group’s statement, from public policy director Markus Reinisch and international policy director Gregoire Verdeaux, said: “Regarding the critical topic of spectrum – the oxygen fuelling Europe’s mobile networks and an essential resource for the evolution of 5G and the internet of things – we welcome the commission’s determination to resolve the spectrum gridlock caused by fragmented policies across the EU.
“However, the proposal stops short of achieving the full harmonisation of spectrum management and indefinite spectrum licences. We encourage European institutions to be bold in seeking to resolve this issue.”
To help achieve the goal of one 5G city per member state by 2020, Juncker has increased the original €700m spend on the Horizon 2020 5G project, launched in 2013, to more than €3.5bn.
Director General of the GSMA Mats Granryd said in a statement that “the commission has recognised the need to incentivise a step change in infrastructure investment in order to fulfil the potential of the Digital Single Market”.
