Public Policy at Vodafone
Vodafone actively engages with governments, policymakers and regulators on issues affecting the customers and societies we serve.
Key policy focus areas for Europe
Europe needs a pro-investment, pro-innovation approach to evolving its digital infrastructure. Policymakers should focus on rebooting regulation in five key areas to accelerate Europe's digital transition.
Scale and Market Structure
There is a wealth of evidence that the EU is falling behind other regions from a technology and therefore economic standpoint. This disparity in fortunes between EU telcos and comparable companies in other regions and other sectors is the consequence of a highly piecemeal, disjointed, and fragmented approach to the rules governing digital infrastructure and those who deploy it.
We recommend the following actions :
Ensuring investment competition in mobile and fixed markets.
This would include higher levels of in-country mobile consolidation and a more targeted application of the SMP framework in fixed markets during the migration from copper to fibre.
Removing barriers to the provision of cross-border business services.
Accelerate the scale benefits of the Digital Single Market by further harmonising and simplifying rules.
The EU cannot reclaim its digital competitiveness and retake a leadership position without an urgent reset of Europe’s telecoms policy regime.
That’s why we’re now calling for a new Connectivity Union that would bring together the Commission, governments, and industry to more aggressively tackle the shortcomings in Europe's connectivity sector before it is too late.
Opportunities for digitalisation to drive change
Digitalisation offers a €1 trillion opportunity for the EU – equivalent to adding another Netherlands to European economic output. In today’s world, digitalisation is now becoming one of the most potent drivers and multipliers of competitiveness.
Revitalising Europe’s industrial base
While larger manufacturers are likely to continue building mobile private 5G networks and bespoke in-factory solutions, smaller businesses will need to rely on publicly available 5GSA to access similar opportunities for innovation.
Accelerating the energy and the green transition
Digital connectivity offers solutions that can cut global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% by 2030. These include smart connectivity applications, such as smart meters, smart grids and smart city platforms that can lower energy consumption and match demand with supply.
Enabling rural and agricultural transformation
Next-generation connectivity will have a crucial role to play in improving crop yields, supporting sustainability, and increasing opportunities for remote or flexible working in jobs traditionally limited to those living in cities.
Ensuring a healthy Europe
Connectivity can deliver immediate returns for patients through telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, while enabling newer applications – like 5G AR training for new cardiologists – to be delivered at scale.
Digital skills
Continuous upskilling for businesses is essential to bring back the competitiveness of the European economy, especially for SMEs. Advanced digital skills raise global GDP by an estimated $6.3 trillion each year by boosting worker income and productivity.
The opportunity is now. Connectivity and digitalisation can be a potent force multiplier for every part of Europe’s economy and society.
News and insights
No results found
