Europe’s digital future and the realisation of its digital ambitions depends on the rapid and equitable deployment of advanced connectivity. And connectivity itself is evolving. The convergence of 5G and mobile technologies with cloud, edge computing, fibre, and non-terrestrial networks is set to become one of the defining technical trends of the next decade. Increasingly, this convergence is recognised as a key enabler for achieving the goals of the EU’s Digital Decade 2030 strategy. This session will set the scene by examining the current state of play in the rollout of next-generation connectivity networks across Member States. It will explore how challenges such as uneven deployment, fragmented markets, and persistent investment gaps can be addressed, and why the rollout of high-speed wired and wireless infrastructure, including fibre, Wi-Fi, and 5G standalone networks, continues to lag behind targets. The session will open with the launch of Connect Europe’s annual State of Digital Communications Report, providing an update on the rollout of 5G and related digital technologies across Europe. A panel discussion will follow, assessing the current deployment landscape, identifying barriers to progress, and evaluating how close the EU is to meeting its gigabit connectivity ambitions.

• In what ways is the convergence of 5G, fibre, cloud, and non-terrestrial networks reshaping Europe’s connectivity ecosystem, and what opportunities and challenges does this create?
• What progress has been seen over the past 12 months in the deployment of the high-speed wired and wireless networks that are going to power our digital future? How does this vary across EU member states, and what factors explain the differences that are seen? 
• What regulatory, investment, or structural barriers continue to hinder Europe’s integrated digital infrastructure, and how can they be overcome?
• How is Europe balancing rapid deployment of new technologies and networks with goals for technological sovereignty, security, and resilience?
• How critical is the deployment of 5G Standalone (SA) to unlocking the full potential of Europe’s digital transformation — and what will it take to accelerate its adoption across Member States?
• How realistic are the EU’s Digital Decade 2030 targets, and what adjustments might be needed in light of current progress and priorities?

Expected to be presented in late 2025, The Digital Networks Act (DNA) represents a transformative milestone in Europe’s connectivity and digital infrastructure policy. Designed to modernise and simplify the regulatory framework, boost investment and industrial innovation, and ensure resilience and competition, the DNA will shape how networks are built, governed, and leveraged across the continent. Scheduled to take place just days after the date of its scheduled launch, this panel will discuss the overarching goals of the Act, and the measures that need to be put in place to ensure that these are delivered. It will explore how it fits into Europe’s wider policy ambitions, the opportunities it opens for innovation and growth, and the challenges that will need to be addressed to ensure a sustainable, competitive and secure digital future for Europe.

• What are the main objectives of the Digital Networks Act (DNA)? Do the proposed measures put forward go far enough to deliver on these?
• How will the DNA build on the EECC and interact with other EU policy initiatives, such as the Cloud & AI Development Act, Radio Spectrum Policy Package and EU Merger Guidelines, to create a coherent digital policy framework?
• How can the DNA attract greater investment in high-speed, secure networks while maintaining a fair balance between operators, service providers, and users?
• How should the Digital Networks Act address the future access regime and balance calls from incumbents for deregulation with the continued need for fair access for competitors, particularly as legacy copper networks are phased out and fibre becomes the predominant infrastructure?
• In what ways can the DNA promote fair competition and strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, and supply chain resilience? How can it remain flexible, future-proof, and effectively implemented across member states amid rapid technological change?

Policymakers and industry leaders across Europe are grappling with how the EU can create a more competitive and investment-friendly regulatory environment to stimulate urgently needed investment in connectivity infrastructure. Telecom CEOs continue to call for bold reform and consolidation to boost competitiveness, fund next-generation network investments, and manage a fragmented market. Yet, every potential merger raises important questions about maintaining competition, safeguarding consumers, and sustaining capital flows into next-generation networks. Alongside this push for increased private investment, discussions around public financing are also intensifying. With the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) approaching and the existing Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme ending in 2027, attention is turning to the next steps and to how public funding instruments can complement private investment and support Europe’s connectivity objectives. Looking collectively at all these elements, and considering the balance that needs to be achieved between scale, competition, and sustainable investment, this session will look at how public and private funding can come together to deliver the finance that is required to build the networks of the future. 

• Is Europe’s telecom market too fragmented to attract the investment needed for next-generation digital infrastructure, and how might greater market integration change this?
• How can regulators and policymakers encourage consolidation and scale without undermining competition, consumer choice, or innovation?
• What mix of public funding, private investment, and innovative partnership models is needed to ensure sustainable, long-term deployment of next-generation networks?
• How can EU financial instruments — including the next Multiannual Financial Framework and post-2027 programmes — best support Europe’s connectivity and digital ambitions?
• What should succeed the Connecting Europe Facility after 2027, and could a proposed Trans-European Digital Network help align EU funding tools for next-generation connectivity?
• To what extent can the Digital Networks Act and evolving EU regulation help create the conditions for viable investment, competitiveness, and global leadership in digital infrastructure?

Across Europe, the rollout of private and industrial networks has gathered real momentum over the past year, with the region emerging as a global leader in 5G deployment for manufacturing and other key sectors. Against this backdrop, this session will explore real-world examples of private networks in action and examine how they are transforming the way businesses and organisations connect, operate, and innovate across a number of different sectors.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and connectivity are inseparable in shaping Europe’s digital and industrial future. AI cannot deliver its full potential without the foundation of robust, secure, and energy-efficient digital infrastructure. At the same time, AI has the capability to enhance and optimise that very infrastructure, making networks more resilient, adaptive, and efficient. As generative models and other advanced AI applications scale, demands on connectivity intensify: higher bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and seamless interconnection between data centres become critical. Europe’s ambition to develop “AI Giga-Factories” further underscores the need for next-generation connectivity to power the continent’s AI ecosystem and ensure that innovation can flourish across borders. This panel will explore the mutual relationship between AI and connectivity, the opportunities for innovation, and the challenges Europe must address to build a future-ready ecosystem.

• What are the key connectivity and infrastructure requirements — including bandwidth, latency, and reliability — needed to support large-scale AI deployment across Europe?
• How can AI, IoT, and cloud technologies work together to optimise digital infrastructure, from network management to cybersecurity and data flow efficiency?
• How central will AI be to the development and operation of 6G networks, and what new capabilities will this integration make possible?
• What steps are needed to ensure Europe’s AI data centres and Giga-factories have the high-speed, cross-border connectivity required to operate effectively?
• How can Europe balance rapid growth in AI-driven infrastructure with energy efficiency, sustainability, and system resilience against outages and cyber threats?
• What policy and investment frameworks are needed to ensure equal access, innovation, and competitiveness across all regions as Europe prepares for the 6G and quantum era?

As Europe advances its digital transformation, ensuring the security and resilience of its communications networks has become a central policy priority. The evolving threat landscape, shaped by rapid technological progress and shifting geopolitical realities, demands a coordinated and forward-looking approach. From safeguarding critical infrastructure and strengthening strategic autonomy to prepare for the disruptive potential of quantum technologies and artificial intelligence, Europe must balance openness, and innovation with resilience and security. Building on existing initiatives such as the 5G Toolbox and on Europe’s broader cyber security framework, this discussion will explore how the EU can enhance cooperation, adapt policies, and develop new tools to protect its digital future while maintaining trust, competitiveness, and global leadership.

• How can Europe maintain openness and innovation while strengthening strategic autonomy, security and resilience in its digital future, particularly as emerging technologies redefine the cyber threat landscape?
• What lessons can be drawn from existing EU cybersecurity frameworks to enhance coordination between Member States, regulators, and private operators in protecting critical infrastructure?
• How effective has the 5G Toolbox been in enhancing Europe’s network security, and what should be its future direction in scope, coverage, and enforcement, as connectivity technologies evolve?
• As AI, quantum computing, and increasingly complex global supply chains reshape Europe’s threat environment, how can policymakers anticipate and contain risks before they become systemic?
• What are the short- and long-term implications of quantum technologies for cybersecurity, and what policy and technical actions are needed now to ensure a timely transition to quantum safe digital infrastructure?

Spectrum is a vital enabler of Europe’s digital transformation, underpinning everything from 5G deployment and future connectivity technologies to industrial innovation and economic growth. The Digital Networks Act (DNA) proposes a series of spectrum reforms aimed at ensuring that Europe’s spectrum management framework supports long-term competitiveness and global leadership. Measures such as longer licence durations, reduced fees, greater cross-border coordination, and more harmonised allocation could have far-reaching implications for investment, innovation, and market stability. Against this backdrop, this session will examine how spectrum policy can best deliver on Europe’s strategic objectives – from closing the digital divide and enabling new services, to fostering the investment certainty needed to deploy next-generation networks. It will look at how best to balance the need to consider national priorities with a cohesive EU-wide approach that strengthens Europe’s digital single market and global standing in connectivity leadership.

• What are the biggest spectrum challenges and opportunities for policymakers and industry groups today, and to what extent can the DNA help to address these?
• How can spectrum policy reforms under the DNA strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and support investment in next-generation connectivity?
• What impact could measures such as longer licence durations and reduced fees have on market certainty, innovation, and network rollout?
• Should we be looking for greater harmonisation and coordination in spectrum allocation across Member States, and what impact would this have on the European digital market?
• What balance should be struck between providing both national flexibility and EU-level consistency in spectrum decisions?
• As we move towards 6G and future connected technologies, how should Europe be looking to evolve its spectrum strategy to ensure future leadership in the global connectivity landscape?

The development of 6G depends on close coordination between spectrum planning and standardisation. The European 6G spectrum roadmap will determine which frequency bands are made available and under what conditions, while standardisation defines how those bands are used through common technical specifications. Aligning these processes is essential to ensure efficiency, interoperability, and both regional and global harmonisation. This session will look at both elements. It will consider the progress that is being made towards defining the band or bands that will be the ‘workhorse’ of initial 6G network rollout and look at the anticipated timelines and phases of 6G standardisation and at the path ahead. Reflecting on lessons from 5G and previous generations, the discussion will consider how Europe can align spectrum policy, research, and industry readiness to ensure a timely, competitive, and sustainable transition to 6G.

• What frequency bands are emerging as the leading candidates for initial 6G deployment across Europe and globally? Is it likely that a single harmonised ‘pioneer’ band for 6G will emerge?
• How can spectrum planning and standardisation processes be better coordinated to ensure that Europe maintains influence and alignment in the global development of 6G?
• What lessons from 5G rollout can help improve the rollout of 6G? How effective was the Commission’s 5G Action Plan in setting a clear roadmap, targets, and coordination mechanisms for 5G deployment, and is a similar strategic framework expected for 6G? 
• What are the likely key milestones and phases in the 6G standardisation timeline, and how do they compare to previous generations like 5G?
• What role should international collaboration through bodies such as ITU, CEPT, and 3GPP play in shaping a coherent global spectrum and standards framework for 6G? 
• How can policymakers, industry, and researchers work together to ensure that spectrum decisions support innovation, investment, and the long-term sustainability of Europe’s 6G ecosystem?

As Europe advances its industrial and digital strategies, satellite and other non-terrestrial technologies are emerging alongside IMT and terrestrial connectivity as essential components of a resilient, high-capacity, and future looking communications ecosystem. Direct-to-device (D2D) capabilities, low-Earth orbit constellations, and hybrid network architectures are already reshaping how connectivity is delivered – expanding coverage, improving redundancy, and unlocking new industrial and societal applications. This session will examine the trends that are being seen towards a more integrated and hybrid approach and explore the likely path ahead. It will look at the role that satellites, Wi-Fi and IoT Communications are likely to play in a future 6G ecosystem, and the technical, regulatory, and investment-related challenges that remain to enable their integration. It will discuss what is needed to build a cohesive and innovation-friendly framework for hybrid connectivity – one that leverages the strengths of each technology to deliver ubiquitous, high-quality connectivity and underpin Europe’s 6G ambitions.

• How can Europe’s industrial and digital policies best support the integration of satellite and non-terrestrial networks within the wider 6G ecosystem? What role will flagship initiatives such as IRIS² play in this process?
• What are the main technical, regulatory, and spectrum challenges that still need to be addressed to achieve seamless hybrid connectivity?
• How can it be ensured that the future spectrum roadmap ensures that the connectivity requirements of both IMT and other complementary technologies are met? 
• With the current 2 GHz MSS licences expiring in 2027, what should Europe’s approach be to the future of this band and to what extent can it play a part in balancing the needs of MSS, direct-to-device, and 6G or IMT services within a hybrid connectivity framework?
• To what extent can direct-to-device (D2D) communication and other hybrid models improve coverage, resilience, and service innovation across Europe?
• What lessons can be drawn from early integration projects and international partnerships to guide Europe’s approach to 6G development?
• As we move towards 6G, to what extent can a truly integrated and future-proof connectivity ecosystem become a reality? What role will other future connectivity technologies such as advanced Wi-Fi systems and IoT play alongside mobile and satellite connectivity across different use cases?

As Europe reshapes its defence architecture, the next generation of secure communications will be critical to operational capability, resilience and strategic autonomy. The European Commission’s proposed revisions to the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the emerging ReArm Europe initiative signal a historic shift in EU defence investment, yet questions remain over how far defence and military communications will be prioritised within this framework. This panel will explore the technologies, policies and partnerships driving the development of secure, trusted and interoperable communication systems for Europe’s armed forces and critical infrastructures. It will also examine both the potential and the challenges offered by ‘dual-use’ networks and technologies that serve both civilian and military customers; as well as moving beyond military communications to other critical communications infrastructure as the balance between sovereignty, resilience, and interoperability in an increasingly contested digital and geopolitical environment.

• How central are defence and military communications within the European Commission’s new MFF and “ReArm Europe” proposals — and what mechanisms could ensure their inclusion as strategic enablers?
• How can a “dual-use” strategy bridge civilian innovation and defence requirements — accelerating technological progress, reducing costs, and reinforcing Europe’s industrial base? What new risks, including potential vulnerabilities and security trade-offs, does this approach introduce, and how can they be effectively mitigated?
• How can Europe reconcile the push for technological sovereignty with the need for trusted partnerships and interoperability, both within the EU and with NATO allies? What role could a European “defence communications corridor” or common framework play in this?
• How can Europe move beyond purely military networks to ensure resilience and trust across all critical communications systems that underpin its economy and security?
• What are the key industrial, regulatory and financing barriers to scaling a European secure communications ecosystem?
• How should trust and cybersecurity be designed into next-generation defence and critical communication connectivity from the outset? What governance models are needed to guarantee integrity and resilience?

The next chapter for Europe’s connectivity ecosystem will depend not only on technology, but on how different players – telecom operators, hyper-scalers, satellite providers, cloud platforms and policymakers – collaborate, compete, and co-invest to build the networks of the future. This closing session will look to bring together discussions heard so far of this year’s event to explore how cooperation, innovation, and new business models can drive a more resilient, competitive, and globally leading European connectivity landscape. It will take a longer-term view, exploring how the debates around specialised services, the integration of AI, cloud, and non-terrestrial networks, and the need to balance competition with cooperation can together shape a post-2030 connectivity ecosystem — one that unleashes innovation, strengthens Europe’s technological sovereignty, and enhances its global competitiveness.

• How will Europe’s connectivity ecosystem evolve beyond 2030, and what new roles and relationships will emerge between telcos, hyper-scalers, satellite providers, and cloud platforms?
• How can regulators support trust and collaboration across Europe’s evolving connectivity ecosystem and, where necessary, ensure equitable outcomes?
• What impact could the identification of “specialised services” have for the future of the open internet, and how can Europe balance flexibility for innovation with fair competition and user protection?
• How can cross-industry collaboration unlock the full potential of next-generation connectivity?
• How can lessons from the “fair share” debate inform more balanced cooperation between network operators and content or cloud providers in funding digital infrastructure?
• Looking ahead to 2030 and beyond, and taking the DNA as a starting point, what are the regulatory, financial, and strategic next steps to ensure the delivery of a truly integrated, innovative, and globally competitive European connectivity ecosystem?