Brussels, 02/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On 1 April, the French Federation of Telecoms (FFT) published its opinion on the digital strategy the European Commission is due to present on 6 May. It calls on the Commission to be innovative and create a safe and innovation-friendly digital environment that helps restore European leadership in the global digital sector. FFT welcomes, “the intense and collaborative work” of the College of Commissioners on the future of this strategy, which formally debated the strategy for the first time on 25 March (see EUROPE 11282). The FFT asserts that “telecommunication networks are a key factor for delivering the European ambitions”.
FFT says that the Commission needs to modernise its approach if it is to fully benefit from the potential offered by new technologies and calls on decision-makers to:
create a fair regulatory environment linked to the service provided and no longer based on the service provider, in order to match with the new reality of the digital players and encourage investment in infrastructure. The so-called OTTs (Over-the-top players) offer services similar to the telecom operators and should be subject to the same regulatory constraints;
create a fair tax environment to promptly tackle the issue of tax optimisation strategies by non-European digital actors avoiding European rules. A system is needed where rules apply according to the geographic region where the service is provided;
create a safe digital environment which will ensure the highest standards in terms of security, data protection and cyber security applying to all players;
create an innovation-friendly environment to accompany the telecom operators in their long-term investments in broadband coverage, quality networks, and access to new technologies.
FFT warmly welcomes the investment package proposed by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and calls for the smart Europe plan to boost big data, connecting devices and security. The FFT concludes that, “with sound policies and a new approach based on the new reality of this sector, Europe has great skills to fully benefit from digital innovations”. (Isabelle Lamberty)