Whither Europe’s Telecom Reset? Implications for Sustainable 6G
Before Europe starts charting its course toward full‑scale 6G development and a digital society supported by sustainable infrastructure, the new Simplification Agenda and accompanying ‘regulatory reset’ message from Connect Europe offer timely guidance.
Here are the main highlights from the recent ADL‑Connect Europe Report (hereinafter, the Simplification Agenda) and the most recent Connect Europe’s bold regulatory reset vision.
Key issues identified
The Simplification Agenda report highlights 34 overlapping regulatory obligations across the telecom lifecycle—creating duties that could allegedly (according to the ADL and Connect Europe, that is) slow progress and restrict innovation. Key issues are:
- Overlapping rules: excessive paperwork and legal uncertainty
- Fragmentation: national variations across EU Member States (MSs) hinder seamless cross-border services
- Financial strain: less regulated counterparts grew better than EU Telecom operators (their market cap fell ~1.8 % annually (2014–2023)
Among the priorities, the Simplification Agenda flags nine critical domains—such as USOs, transparency requirements, contract rules, churn management, security, and AI governance—that should be addressed to reduce burden.
What’s changing
Key recommendations of the Simplification Agenda:
- Streamline obligations
- Rationalise competitive rules
- Consolidate legislation
- Reduce reporting demands
- Reform spectrum policy
- Move enforcement ex‑post
- Maintain robust consumer protection
Regulatory Reset vision:
Given the above, Connect Europe’s Regulatory Reset position, published on 14 July 2025, pushes for radical reform:
- Eliminate duplication of the regulations that overlap
- Move from ex‑ante to ex‑post regulation
- Simplify spectrum allocation
- Harmonise rules across services and EU MSs
Prospective regulatory impact on 6G
- Streamlined authorisations & reduced reporting
Fewer national barriers will support 6G cross‑border trials, speeding development and rollout. - Longer, flexible spectrum licences
With 6G planned innovative spectrum usage scenarios—terrestrial, satellite, and hybrid—more stable licensing could unlock experimental testbeds, fostering tech innovation in IoT applications. - Ex‑post enforcement
Allowing more freedom in development and pilot deployment aligns with possible 6G needs to explore real‑world scenarios for sustainability.
Why it matters now
- Current EU projections show full‑fibre completion by 2051—a wake-up call for speedier telecom evolution. A regulatory reset aimed at fueling innovation aligns with broad 6G4Society’s goals around green, connected, and equal societies.
- As the upcoming Digital Networks Act (due Q4 2025) integrates these simplifications, 6G4Society might benefit through reduced barriers and clearer frameworks.
Conclusion
The Connect Europe‑backed Simplification Agenda opens strategic opportunities for 6G and for 6G4Society to deliver future‑proof digital infrastructure. Carefully aligning our project with these prospective reforms, while keeping a sound critical sense, will help showcase sustainable 6G as a flagship success in Europe’s digital transformation, consumer protection, and sovereignty.
6G4Society invites stakeholders to join the conversation—please have your say: check out our 6G4Society Community Forum, take our Citizen Survey, read our publications, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
