Consultation on the Future of Connectivity – Vote & Comment

You are kindly invited to express your opinion on our draft consultation contribution. Click here to download our Fair Share consultation position. 

Background

The Commission has launched an exploratory consultation to gather views on the potential developments of the connectivity sector and its infrastructure. Known as “fair share”, the consultation is held to decide whether the European Commission should force large online providers to compensate telecom opetators for the use of their network.

It is crucial that digital SMEs contribute to the Commission’s consultation in order to shape the future of connectivity. Compensation of internet service providers is likely to undermine competition and threaten the principle of net neutrality.

In this draft response we are proposing that telecom operators shall not directly receive monetary contributions by Big Tech, but we’re advocating for an EU-wide Connectivity Fund. Such fund should accelerate investments in high-capacity networks and make connectivity more accessible and more affordable for SMEs.