Overview
McDermott’s Belgian office will host the latest chapter meeting of the International Institute of Communications in an event supported by Liberty Global.
This meeting will aim to discuss how the importance of creating a regulatory framework that supports innovation in the telecom sector and delivers benefit to consumers has come to the forefront of the EU’s digital agenda during the current mandate of the European Commission. In its consultation on the future of the telecom sector the Commission launched a discussion on technological and market developments. This event enables attendees to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the telecom sector.
Telecom networks serve as a catalyst for the European economy and an important pillar for a digital, prosperous society. With the roll-out of 5G and Gigabit networks, telecom operators are faced with tough investment decisions. At the same time operators are making use of new technologies to increase efficiency and new services on top of their networks. Using AI to make networks more efficient and reducing energy consumption. The sector is also actively looking at new technological developments like NaaS and network slicing to offer new type of services.
At the same time, geopolitical developments are also impacting the sector. Security of networks have come to the forefront due to recent events like COVID-19 and the North Stream 2 accident. Resilient and secure connectivity is key for the European economy and competitiveness. Ensuring a functional supply chain is also part of this. This poses new questions about collaboration between the private sector and public authorities to ensure Europe stays connected.
