Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000467/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)
According to the Draghi report, ensuring full gigabit and 5G coverage across the EU requires an estimated investment of EUR 200 billion. However, Europe’s per capita investment in telecom infrastructure remains significantly lower than in other major economies, such as the United States and China.
A key factor behind this investment gap is the fragmentation of the EU telecom market. With 34 mobile network operator groups across the Member States – compared to a handful in the United States or China – companies face higher fixed costs and struggle to scale efficiently.
Additionally, this fragmentation limits the ability to capitalise on emerging technologies, including edge computing and network service innovations through application programming interfaces (APIs), where Europe currently lags behind.
The EU’s cautious stance on telecom mergers has further contributed to market inefficiencies, preventing operators from achieving economies of scale and making large-scale infrastructure investments more challenging. Without a more coordinated and competitive telecom landscape, Europe risks falling behind in digital innovation and connectivity.
What measures does the Commission plan to take to address market fragmentation, boost investment and enhance Europe’s position in next-generation network technologies?
Submitted: 3.2.2025